[Measurement of nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of the penis].

Tests for evaluating the function of the nervous system in patients with erectile impotence have been performed indirectly with the measurement of nerve conduction velocity in the extremities and other neurological procedures, since it has been technically difficult to measure the nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of the penis. Calculation of the nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of penis from values of the bulbocavernosus reflex latency was not reliable and the development of a technique to measure accurately the nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of penis has been awaited. Ten impotent men were studied, and a precise description was made about the procedure of measuring the orthodromic nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of the penis. The dorsal nerve of the penis was stretched optimally with a weight of 300 g, and its conduction velocity reached the maximal value. This new methodology is of use in the evaluation of erectile impotence.