Biomaterial Database

Simulation of myopathic motor unit action potentials. 1989

S D Nandedkar, and D B Sanders

Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.

Normal motor units (MUs) were simulated and their architecture altered to simulate the changes produced by myopathy. The concentric needle electromyographic recordings of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) from the MUs were then also simulated. These simulated MUAPs showed features that are seen in myopathy: normal amplitude and slightly reduced area, MUAPs with simple waveform and reduced duration, and complex MUAPs with normal or increased duration. The MUAP waveforms were complex because of increased variability of fiber diameter and not because of loss of muscle fibers. The MUAP duration increased when the variability of fiber diameter increased. Finally, MUAPs similar to those seen in neurogenic diseases were produced from MUs in which the only abnormality was increased variability of fiber diameter.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009046	Motor Neurons	Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS.	Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009135	Muscular Diseases	Acquired, familial, and congenital disorders of SKELETAL MUSCLE and SMOOTH MUSCLE.	Muscle Disorders,Myopathies,Myopathic Conditions,Muscle Disorder,Muscular Disease,Myopathic Condition,Myopathy
D003198	Computer Simulation	Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes.	Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential