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Length dependence of variables associated with temporal dispersion in human motor nerves
Author(s) -
SchulteMattler Wilhelm J.,
Müller Tobias,
Georgiadis Dimitrios,
Kornhuber Malte E.,
Zierz Stephan
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.1036
Subject(s) - tibial nerve , anatomy , amplitude , attenuation , compound muscle action potential , stimulation , nerve conduction velocity , ulnar nerve , nuclear magnetic resonance , medicine , physics , electrophysiology , optics , elbow
Temporal dispersion in motor nerves is associated with changes of amplitude, area, duration, and Fourier spectra of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) when comparing responses to proximal and distal stimulation. These changes depend on the length of the nerve segment. To quantitatively assess this dependence, motor conduction studies of nerve segments of various lengths were performed in the median, ulnar, and tibial nerves of 86 test subjects, aged 4 to 73 years. Amplitude, area, duration, and spectral energy above 49 Hz of CMAPs were measured. Values after distal and proximal stimulation of each nerve segment were compared to determine amplitude decay, area decay, protraction, and high‐frequency attenuation. A significant length dependence of amplitude decay was found in the tibial and ulnar nerves, of area decay in the median and ulnar nerves, and of CMAP duration in the ulnar and tibial nerves. The length dependence of the high‐frequency attenuation was significant in all nerves studied. This report provides normative data for variables associated with temporal dispersion. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 527–533, 2001