In 1979 Dr Sperelakis published the Origin of the Cardiac Resting Potential' in the *Handbook of Physiology of the Heart* . Since that time, many investigators and teachers of membrane biophysics have used this article as a source of reference on the fundamental principles and equations describing the factors that establish the resting potential in excitable and non-excitable cells. Professor Sperelakis has expanded the scope of this article to provide the present book, creating a comprehensive work and an invaluable reference on the electrophysiological concepts underlying cellular excitability. There has long been a need for a text which precisely defines the assumptions underlying the derivations and equations that describe the principles of electrical excitability and maintenance of ion gradients in excitable cells. Here, Professor Sperelakis not only defines the equations and underlying concepts of membrane potentials, but gives working examples of solutions, thus allowing investigators to utilize the fundamental principles in their research, and students of membrane physiology to establish a sound basis of electrophysiological theory. **** I have used the `Origin of the Cardiac Resting Potential' in graduate courses on cell physiology and biophysics, and look forward to using this new book. The time and effort required to put this work together reflects the dedication of Dr Sperelakis to the field of membrane biophysics and electrophysiology in his long, productive career. '
From the Foreword by Dr David R. Harder.

Inhalt
Chapt. I Membranes and Electricity.- A. Introduction and Historical Aspects.- B. External Recording and Intracellular Recording.- C. The Cell Membrane.- Appendix I: Review of Electricity and Cable Parameters.- Chapt. II Ion Distributions and Ion Pumps.- A. Introduction to Ion Distributions.- B. Na+ and K+ Distributions.- C. Cl?Distribution.- D. Ca2+ Distribution, Exchange, and Pumping.- E. Energetics of Pumping.- F. (Na-K)-ATPase Pump.- Chapt. III Ca2+/Na+ Exchange Reaction.- A. Energetic Considerations.- B. Ratio of Free Energy Changes.- C. Electrogenic Na/Ca Exchange Current Measurement.- Appendix III: Derivation of Ca/Na Exchange Distribution Ratio.- Chapt. IV Diffusion and Permeability.- A. Diffusion and Diffusion Coefficient.- B. Permeability Coefficient.- C. Ussing Flux Ratio Equation.- Appendix IV: Diffusion.- Chapt. V Concentration Cells and Equilibrium Potentials.- Appendix V: Derivation of Nernst Equation.- Chapt. VI Determination of Resting Potential.- A. Modified Nernst Equation.- B. Constant Field Equation.- C. Chord Conductance Equation.- D. Resting Potential as Function of [K]o.- Appendix VI-A: Constant Field Equation.- Appendix VI-B: Derivation of Chord Conductance Equation.- Appendix VI-C: Circuit Analysis for Cell Membrane.- Appendix VI-D: Permeability Coefficient Determination.- Appendix VI-E: Half-Cell Potentials.- Chapt. VII Electrochemical Driving Forces and Membrane Ionic Currents.- A. Current Equations.- B. Automaticity.- C. Electrical Equivalent Circuit of Cell Membrane.- Chapt. VIII Surface Charge, Stable States, and Osmotic Effects.- A. Potential Profile Across Membrane.- B. Multiple Stable States of Membrane Potential.- C. Osmotic Effects.- D. K+ Effects.- E. pH Effects.- Appendix VIII: Theoretical Velocity as a Function of Tonicity in aCable.- Chapt. IX Electrogenic Sodium Pump Potentials.- A. Na+ Loading for Pump Stimulation.- B. Density, Turnover Number, and Pump Current.- C. Model and Equivalent Circuit.- D. Physiological Importance.- E. Measurement of Electrogenic Na-K Pump Current.- Appendix IX: Electrogenic Pump Potential.- Chapt. X Developmental Changes in K+ Permeability.- Chapt. XI Gibbs-Donnan Potentials.- Chapt. XII Effect of Resting Potential on Rate of Rise of Action Potential.- Chapt. XIII Cable Properties and Propagation.- A. Introduction.- B. Biological Fiber as a Cable.- C. Length Constant.- D. Time Constant.- E. Local Potentials.- F. Local-Circuit Currents.- G. Factors Affecting Propagation Velocity.- H. Saltatory Conduction.- I. Wavelength of the Impulse.- J. External Recording of Action Potentials.- K. Compound Action Potential.- L. Summary.- Chapt. XIV Summary.- References.