CONDUCTION VELOCITY MEASUREMENT IN HUMAN SPINAL CORD AND TIBIAL NERVE USING SKIN ELECTRODES RECORDING OF THE SPINAL EVOKED POTENTIAL
Conduction velocity of the spinal cord and tibial nerve was measured in 21 normal young adults using somatosensory spinal evoked potential recorded simultaneously from surface electrodes placed over the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. Conduction velocity of the spinal cord was 70.1m/sec (±1SD 8.4) and that of the tibial nerve was 57.5m/sec (±1SD 2.5). The speed may represent a maximal conduction velocity of the spinal cord, however, the precise localization of conducting pathway was unknown. Our non-invasive recording technique reported here should provide a valuable aid to evaluate functional disturbances of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.