Repetitive nerve stimulation
Repetitive Nerve Stimulation
Repetitive Nerve Stimulation (RNS), pronounced as /rɪˈpɛtɪtɪv nɜːv stɪmjʊˈleɪʃən/, is a diagnostic procedure used in neurology to test the function of neuromuscular junctions and nerves. The term originates from the Latin words 'repetitio' meaning 'repetition', 'nervus' meaning 'nerve', and 'stimulatio' meaning 'incitement'.
Procedure
During a Repetitive Nerve Stimulation test, a series of electrical impulses are delivered to a nerve through surface electrodes. The response of the muscle supplied by that nerve is then recorded. The procedure is often used to diagnose conditions such as myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome.
Interpretation
The results of a Repetitive Nerve Stimulation test can provide valuable information about the function of the neuromuscular junction. A decrease in the amplitude of the muscle response, known as a decremental response, can indicate a disorder of the neuromuscular junction.
Related Terms
- Electromyography: A diagnostic procedure that assesses the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them.
- Neuromuscular junction: The synapse or junction of the axon terminal of a motoneuron with the motor end plate, the highly-excitable region of muscle fiber plasma membrane responsible for initiation of action potentials across the muscle's surface, ultimately causing the muscle to contract.
- Myasthenia gravis: A long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness.
- Lambert-Eaton syndrome: A disorder in which faulty communication between nerves and muscles leads to muscle weakness.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Repetitive nerve stimulation
- Wikipedia's article - Repetitive nerve stimulation
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