Premium
Generators of the early and late median thenar premotor potentials
Author(s) -
Park Tracy A.,
Del Toro David R.
Publication year - 1995
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.880180912
Subject(s) - median nerve , anatomy , thumb , medicine
The generator sources of the median thenar premotor potentials (PMPs) have remained elusive despite debate in the literature. By studying the median nerve in the hand with a variety of bipolar and referential recording montages, we systematically examined the possible nearfield and far‐field sources that may determine these potentials. The results suggest that the early PMP is a near‐field potential recorded by G 1 and generated by the median nerve traversing the distal carpal tunnel. The late PMP represents a far‐field potential generated by the median digital nerve fibers as they pass from the palm volume into the thumb volume. Characteristics of the late PMP are explained using the leading/trailing dipole (L/TD) model of far‐field potential generation. The diagnostic utility of these PMPs is questionable, since they are recorded from “regions” along the nerve rather than from more clearly defined sites. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.