Biomaterial Database

The intraoperative evaluation of the neurosensory function of the anterior cruciate ligament in humans using somatosensory evoked potentials. 1992

M I Pitman, and N Nainzadeh, and D Menche, and R Gasalberti, and E K Song

Department of Sports Medicine, Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, New York 10003.

Most of the investigation of the properties of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has focused on its biomechanical functions. There has been increasing interest in the study of the possible neuroreceptor function of the ACL and its role in providing important proprioceptive feedback. Anatomic and histologic studies in humans have shown the presence of neuroreceptors within the anterior cruciate ligament. Indirect evidence exists that proprioception is diminished in the ACL-deficient knee. However, direct evidence in humans of the actual origin of the afferent impulses from within the ACL itself is lacking. Measurement of direct electrical afferent activity, occurring on stimulation of the ACL, should provide this evidence. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) measure the electric potentials evoked in the cerebral cortex upon stimulation of a peripheral neuroreceptor. Carried by the posterior columns of the spinal cord, they reflect activity of the proprioceptive fibers. During arthroscopic procedures performed on nine patients, the normal ACL was stimulated by the use of electrodes applied to the femoral end, midsubstance, and tibial end, and cortical potentials thus evoked were recorded. In all cases, SEPs were recorded at the cerebral cortex upon stimulation of the ACL. The greatest potentials were reported upon stimulation of the midsubstance of the ligament. These findings provide direct evidence for, and strongly support the presence of, active proprioceptive receptors within the intact anterior cruciate ligament of the human knee.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007432	Intraoperative Period	The period during a surgical operation.	Intraoperative Periods,Period, Intraoperative,Periods, Intraoperative
D011434	Proprioception	Sensory functions that transduce stimuli received by proprioceptive receptors in joints, tendons, muscles, and the INNER EAR into neural impulses to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Proprioception provides sense of stationary positions and movements of one's body parts, and is important in maintaining KINESTHESIA and POSTURAL BALANCE.	Labyrinthine Sense,Position Sense,Posture Sense,Sense of Equilibrium,Vestibular Sense,Sense of Position,Equilibrium Sense,Sense, Labyrinthine,Sense, Position,Sense, Posture,Sense, Vestibular
D011984	Sensory Receptor Cells	Specialized afferent neurons capable of transducing sensory stimuli into NERVE IMPULSES to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Sometimes sensory receptors for external stimuli are called exteroceptors; for internal stimuli are called interoceptors and proprioceptors.	Nerve Endings, Sensory,Neurons, Sensory,Neuroreceptors,Receptors, Neural,Neural Receptors,Receptors, Sensory,Sensory Neurons,Sensory Receptors,Nerve Ending, Sensory,Neural Receptor,Neuron, Sensory,Neuroreceptor,Receptor Cell, Sensory,Receptor Cells, Sensory,Receptor, Neural,Receptor, Sensory,Sensory Nerve Ending,Sensory Nerve Endings,Sensory Neuron,Sensory Receptor,Sensory Receptor Cell
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005073	Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory	The electric response evoked in the CEREBRAL CORTEX by stimulation along AFFERENT PATHWAYS from PERIPHERAL NERVES to CEREBRUM.	Somatosensory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Potential, Somatosensory,Somatosensory Evoked Potential
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001182	Arthroscopy	Endoscopic examination, therapy and surgery of the joint.	Arthroscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Arthroscopic,Arthroscopic Surgery,Surgery, Arthroscopic,Arthroscopic Surgeries,Arthroscopic Surgical Procedure,Arthroscopies,Procedure, Arthroscopic Surgical,Procedures, Arthroscopic Surgical,Surgeries, Arthroscopic,Surgical Procedure, Arthroscopic
D016118	Anterior Cruciate Ligament	A strong ligament of the knee that originates from the posteromedial portion of the lateral condyle of the femur, passes anteriorly and inferiorly between the condyles, and attaches to the depression in front of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia.	Cruciate Ligament, Anterior,Anterior Cranial Cruciate Ligament,Cranial Cruciate Ligament,Anterior Cruciate Ligaments,Cranial Cruciate Ligaments,Cruciate Ligament, Cranial,Cruciate Ligaments, Anterior,Cruciate Ligaments, Cranial,Ligament, Anterior Cruciate,Ligament, Cranial Cruciate,Ligaments, Anterior Cruciate,Ligaments, Cranial Cruciate