Анотація:
In the current survey the authors consider some ofthe main theorems concerning groups satisfying certain rank con-ditions. They present these theorems starting with recently estab-lished results. This order of exposition is different, indeed oppositeto chronological, but it allows them to present the main develop-ment of the theory. They illustrate the connections betweenthedifferent ranks emphasizing, in particular, the connectionbetweenthe special rank and the Hirsch–Zaitsev rank.