Motor unit action potential field--modelling results.

Abstract

The theoretical field of a motor unit (MU) action potential (MUP) was considered. It has been proved that in normal muscles the shape of a smooth threephasic MUP curve is determined mostly by the spatial distribution of MU muscle fibres. Phenomena called "time dispersion" are of prime importance in pathology, where they complicate normal threephasic MUP. Amplitudes and time parameters of model threephasic MUP were analyzed as a function of the radial distance R from the geometrical centre of the motor unit territory (MUT) and approximated by mathematical expressions. It appeared that analysis of radial variability of MUP curve allows conclusions to be made about the MUT size and the spatial distribution of MU muscle fibres. These anatomical features of a MU are often changed in pathological muscles, thus the proposed methods of their evaluation could be helpful in diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases.