Axonal conduction velocity and voluntary discharge properties of individual short toe extensor motor units in man. 1978

J Borg, and L Grimby, and J Hannerz

1. The axonal conduction velocity and the voluntary discharge properties of 120 short toe extensor motor units were studied in man. 2. Electromyographic techniques were used which permitted the identification of individual motor unit potentials after proximal and distal electrical nerve stimulation and during maximum voluntary effort. 3. The necessary selectivity of the e.m.g. recordings was achieved in two circumstances. In some subjects, previous motor nerve lesions distal to the point of stimulation had led to collateral sprouting with larger motor unit potentials. In other subjects an accessory deep peroneal nerve was present, so that lidocaine block of the main motor nerve left a small number of innervated motor units. 4. The axonal conduction velocities of the individual motor units ranged from 30 to 54 m/sec with most motor units between 35 and 45 m/sec. 5. Motor units which voluntarily could be driven continuously at frequencies below 10/sec had axonal conduction velocities between 30 and 45 m/sec. 6. Motor units which on voluntary drive responded only in high frequency bursts had axonal conduction velocities between 40 and 54 m/sec. 7. Motor units with intermediate voluntary discharge properties had intermediate axonal conduction velocities. 8. Thus a relationship was established between voluntary discharge properties and axonal conduction velocity.

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
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009431 Neural Conduction The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus. Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
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
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D014034 Toes Any one of five terminal digits of the vertebrate FOOT. Toe

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