Abstract
Despite several antibody tests being available for the assessment of disorders of neuromuscular transmission, electrophysiological testing of the neuromuscular junction remains a very important part of clinical practice. The neuromuscular junction is a complex structure and an understanding of its anatomy and physiology can assist in better understanding the value of electrodiagnostic testing. The most common disorders include myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and botulism, and are usually readily identified using several electrophysiological techniques including slow (2-3 Hz) and fast (20- to 50-Hz stimulation). Single-fiber needle EMG remains an additional powerful and sensitive test for patients with disorders that are more mild, in whom repetitive stimulation testing is negative or indeterminate.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Suggested Reading
AAEM Professional Practice Committee, Chiou-Tan FY, Gilchrist JM, Tim RW. Practice parameter for repetitive nerve stimulation and single fiber electromyographic evaluation of adult patients with suspected myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: summary statement. Muscle Nerve, 2001.
Engel AG, ed. Myasthenia Gravis and Myasthenic Disorders. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 1999.
Fon EA, Edwards RH. Molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release. Muscle Nerve 2001;24: 581–601.
Gilchrist JM. Myasthenia gravis. In: Current Diagnosis in Neurology (Feldmann E, ed.). Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1994, pp. 350–352.
Lindstrom JM. Acetylcholine receptors and myasthenia. Muscle Nerve 2000;23: 453–477.
Maselli RA. Electrodiagnosis of disorders of neuromuscular transmission. Ann NY Acad Sci 1998; 841: 696–711.
Maselli RA, Bakshi N. Botulism. AAEM case report #16. Muscle Nerve 2000;23: 1137–1144.
Oh SJ, Doo EM, Kuruoglu R, Bradley RJ, Dwyer D. Diagnostic sensitivity of the laboratory tests in myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve 1992;15: 720–724.
Sanders DB, Stalberg EV. AAEM minimonograph #25: Single fiber electromyography. Muscle Nerve 1996;19: 1069–1083.
Stalberg E, Trontelj JV. Single Fiber Electromyography. Studies in Healthy and Disease Muscle. 2nd Ed. Raven Press, New York, NY, 1994.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Humana Press Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gilchrist, J.M. (2007). Neurophysiology of Neuromuscular Transmission and Its Disorders. In: Blum, A.S., Rutkove, S.B. (eds) The Clinical Neurophysiology Primer. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-271-7_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-271-7_21
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-996-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-271-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)