Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) constitutes most of the tunica media in blood vessels and plays an important role in the control of vascular tone. Ca is a major regulator of VSM contraction and is strictly regulated by an intricate system of Ca mobilization and Ca homeostatic mechanisms. The interaction of a physiological agonist with its plasma membrane receptor stimulates the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids and increases the generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 stimulates Ca release from the intracellular stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Agonists also stimulate Ca influx from the extracellular space via voltage-gated, receptor-operated, and store-operated channels. Ca homeostatic mechanisms tend to decrease the intracellular free Ca concentration ([Ca]) by activating Ca extrusion via the plasmalemmal Ca pump and the Na/Ca exchanger and the uptake of excess Ca by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and possibly the mitochondria. A threshold increase in [Ca] activates Ca-dependent myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, stimulates actin–myosin interaction, and initiates VSM contraction. The agonist-induced maintained increase in DAG also activates specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, which in turn cause phosphorylation of cytoplasmic substrates that increase the contractile myofilaments force sensitivity to Ca and thereby enhance VSM contraction. Agonists could also activate Rho kinase (ROCK), leading to inhibition of MLC phosphatase and further enhancement of the myofilaments force sensitivity to Ca. The combined increases in [Ca], PKC and ROCK activity cause significant vasoconstriction and could also stimulate VSM hypertrophy and hyperplasia. The protracted and progressive activation of these processes could lead to pathological vascular remodeling and vascular disease.