Question

Explain the reasons for differences in nerve conduction velocity

Answer 1

Answer: Some of the reasons for differences in nerve conduction velocity are as follows.

1. Height: Nerve conduction velocities in Median sensory and Ulnar sensory nerves are inversely proportional to an individual's height.
2. Sex: Females have slower nerve conduction velocity than males because Sural nerve conduction amplitude is considerably reduced in females.
3. Age: nerve conduction velocity if newborn and kids (age upto 4 years) is half than adult person. Age is inversely related to sensory amplitude measures of the Median, Ulnar, and Sural nerves.
4. Temperature: If temperature increases conduction velocities of most motor and sensory nerves also increases and vice versa.
5. Hand: Individuals with bigger wrist have lesser Median nerve latencies and faster nerve conduction velocities.
6. Carpal tunnel syndrome: nerve conduction velocity is reduced due tocompression of the median nerve at the wrist
7. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Due to this disease, distal motor latencies and conduction velocity are reduced.
8. Other disease such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, Peripheral diabetic neuropathy also cause differences in nerve conduction velocity when compared to normal healthy person.