[Differential evaluation of excitatory conduction rats along different segments of motor nerves and functional tests in the diagnosis of diseases of the human peripheral neuromotor apparatus].

In 61 patients with neurono- and neuropathies and affections of the synaptic apparatus and the muscular matter of various etiology, the state of the peripheral nerves was examined. It was found that various forms of the pathology are characterized by specific changes in the speed of the stimulus transmission along various parts of motor nerves. The changes of the functional state can be seen especially clearly on comparing the speed of the stimulus transmission along the proximal and the distal parts of a peripheral nerve (the difference being named "transmission speed gradient"). In neuronopathies the transmission speed changes are prevailing in the proximal, in neuropathies in the distal, and in synaptic structure abnormalities in the extreme distal parts of the nerve. A 15-minute artificial ischemia of the nerve (a functional test) led to characteristic changes of the transmission speed, these changes correlating with the process stage. In cases of mild changes of the transmission speed the nerve was more sensitive, while in cases of pronounced changes more resistant to the ischemia. It was shown that the transmission speed changes in ischemia manifested themselves along the whole nerve, but not only in the site of its affection. In cases of the carpal canal syndrome the ischemia-induced lowering of the transmission speed in the nerve distal part was extremely sharp.