Sympathetic reflex latencies and conduction velocities in normal man. 1980

J Fagius, and B G Wallin

(1) Micro-electrode recordings were made of multi-unit sympathetic activity in skin or muscle branches of the median nerve at the elbow and the peroneal nerve at the fibular head in 69 healthy subjects. In some recordings changes in skin resistance and pulse plethysmograms were monitored within the receptive field of the impaled fascicles. Conduction velocities in postganglionic sympathetic fibres were measured either directly in double nerve recordings (9 subjects) or indirectly by determining the latency of either of two sympathetic reflexes. For skin nerve sympathetic activity (SSA) the excitatory reflex response to an electrical skin stimulus was used and for muscle nerve sympathetic activity (MSA) the inhibitory baroreflex response to single arterial pulse waves. (2) For MSA, reflex latencies were 0.90--1.13 s in median and 1.22--1.54 s in peroneal nerve recordings. Corresponding latencies for SSA were 0.48--0.66 s and 0.72--0.91 s, respectively. Reflex latency showed a positive correlation with body height and with length of the extremity recorded from. From the correlation with extremity length, average conduction velocities for MSA in median and peroneal nerves were calculated to be 0.74 and 1.11 m/s, respectively. Corresponding figures for SSA were 1.69 and 1.16 m/s. (3) With direct determinations of conduction velocities average values for MSA (comprising mainly vasoconstrictor fibres) in median and peroneal nerves were 0.72 and 1.09 m/s, respectively. With direct SSA determinations, sympathetic bursts containing only vasoconstrictor impulses (giving plethysmographic responses but no changes of skin resistance) had lower conduction velocities than bursts containing only sudomotor impulses (giving electrodermal but no plethysmographic responses) or a mixture of sudomotor and vasoconstrictor impulses. Average values (0.77 and 1.27 m/s, respectively) were similar in median and peroneal recordings. (4) It is concluded that determination of reflex latency is a useful indirect measure of conduction velocity in sympathetic postganglionic fibres.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008475 Median Nerve A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand. Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
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
D010543 Peroneal Nerve The lateral of the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve. The peroneal (or fibular) nerve provides motor and sensory innervation to parts of the leg and foot. Fibular Nerve,Fibular Nerves,Nerve, Fibular,Nerve, Peroneal,Nerves, Fibular,Nerves, Peroneal,Peroneal Nerves
D012018 Reflex An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
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
D001338 Autonomic Fibers, Postganglionic Nerve fibers which project from cell bodies of AUTONOMIC GANGLIA to SYNAPSES on target organs. Autonomic Fiber, Postganglionic,Fiber, Postganglionic Autonomic,Fibers, Postganglionic Autonomic,Postganglionic Autonomic Fiber,Postganglionic Autonomic Fibers

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