Mechanosensitive ion channels (MS channels) represent a diverse population of ion channels. Other membrane-associated proteins with different biophysical properties apart from ion channels, specialized cytoskeletal proteins, cell junction molecules and G-protein-coupled receptors and kinases, among many others are also considered mechanosensitive. MS channels integrate a variety of mechanical stimuli such as shear stress, tension, torsion, and compression and translate them into short-term effects (i.e., changes in ion concentrations and voltage) and long-term effects via changes in gene expression.