DeFelice presents this intricate subject in an easy-to-follow, stepwise
fashion: he reviews the fundamentals of electricity; transfers those
principles to a biological context; and expands the discussion to
encompass the subject's practical dimensions. Clear definitions and
intuitive descriptions characterize the presentation, which is
complemented by over 150 drawings and graphs. Mathematics is kept to the
minimum necessary. The text covers both excitable and non-excitable
membranes and includes the plasma membrane as well as intracellular
membranes.
A unique, `electronics-made-simple' appendix, designed specifically for
biologists, treats the operational amplifiers used in patch clamp, and
other appendices offer solutions to equations and examples that
illustrate principles.