Electrons are involved in all electrical phenomena, and living cells cannot be an exception. This book takes on a decidedly different approach to existing texts on electrophysiology, by considering electrical physiological processes from the viewpoint of electron flow, rather than the conventional notion of ion movement. It concisely describes the theoretical background of electron density and cellular voltage, before exploring thought-provoking questions such as the relationship between electrolyte distribution and transmembrane potential, and the source of electricity generation in living cells. A new electromagnetic theory of muscular function is presented, and all topics of relevance — including the electrophysiology of invertebrates, plants, fungi and bacteria — are comprehensively covered. Using plain language and more than 40 original illustrations, the author has designed each chapter to provide a succinct overview of an individual topic in a format that appeals to both the expert and the uninitiated. Electromagnetism, Quanta, and Electron Flow in the Electrophysiology of Living Cells proffers a refreshingly new way to understand a fascinatingly old subject.

Contents:

• 
  

  Acknowledgements

  
  


• 
  

  About the Author

  
  


• 
  

  Preface

  
  


• 
  

  Abbreviations

  
  


• 
  

  Introduction:

  
  
  
  
  • Facts and Definitions
  
  
  • What about Volts?
  
  
  • What is the Current Idea about Cellular Voltage?
  
  
  • The Concept of Electron Density
  
  
  • Does the Electrolyte Distribution Actually Determine the Trans-Membrane Potential?
  
  
  • Where, in Living Cells, is Electricity Generated?
  
  
  • Depolarisation (Loss of Cytoplasmic Electron Density) Activation
  
  
  • A Test of the Impedance Hypothesis
  
  
  • Fast Depolarisation in Conducting Tissue
  
  
  • Repolarisation
  
  
  • The Calcium, Sodium and Potassium Problems
  
  
  • Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Muscles
  
  
  • The Effect of the Ca2+ Problem on Cardiac Muscle Electrophysiology
  
  
  • Mechanical Restitution and the Optimal Contractile Response
  
  
  • Internal Calcium Ion Release and Recirculation
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Non-Electromagnetic Theory versus Electromagnetic Theory of Muscular Function:

  
  
  
  
  • Objections to the Non-Electromagnetic Theory of Striated Muscle
  
  
  • Different Theories
  
  
  • Electromagnetic Theory of Muscle Contraction
  
  
  • Electrophysiology of Smooth Muscle
  
  
  • Flow-Mediated Dilatation
  
  
  • Pulmonary Vessels
  
  
  • Non-Vascular Smooth Muscle
  
  
  • Hierarchy of Vertebrate Muscle
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Other Organs:

  
  
  
  
  • Electrophysiology of Endocrine Glands
  
  
  • Electrophysiology of Exocrine Glands
  
  
  • Exceptions to Any General Model
  
  
  • Central and Autonomic Nervous Systems
  
  
  • Receptors Affecting Perception
  
  
  • Receptors Initiating Feedback Control Reflexes
  
  
  • Summary and General Comments on Vertebrate Animals
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Invertebrates:

  
  
  
  
  • The Electrophysiology of Invertebrates
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Interlude:

  
  
  
  
  • Electricity Passing Through Flesh
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Other Organisms:

  
  
  
  
  • Plants
  
  
  • Fungi
  
  
  • 'Primitive' Organisms
  
  
  • Bacteria
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Epilogue

  
  


• 
  

  References

  
  


• 
  

  Index

  
  

Readership: Electrophysiologists, clinicians, and students of Biophysics, Physiology, Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine and related courses.

Key Features:

• Analyses electrical physiological functions as electricity (i.e. movement of electrons), which contrasts with the present teaching that these functions are phenomena indicating ion movement; it mirrors the classical work Electron Flow in Organic Chemistry (Paul H Scudder, 1992)


• Written by Professor Mark I M Noble, who holds three doctorates and four elected fellowships, and is an international authority on a number of subjects within the field of the science of the cardiovascular system


• Contains almost 100 figures, of which more than 40 are previously unpublished