title: Electromyographic evaluation of conduction time and velocity of the recurrent laryngeal nerves of clinically normal dogs.
abstract: In 25 adult dogs of various breeds, recurrent laryngeal nerve fibers were electrically stimulated at 2 points along their extralaryngeal course. Evoked compound muscle action potentials were recorded in the ipsilateral intrinsic laryngeal muscles, using a percutaneous needle electrode. Latencies, amplitudes, and durations were measured. Latencies were correlated with neck length (r = 0.88 on left and 0.82 on right). Five of the dogs were euthanatized, and the nerve length between the 2 stimulating needle electrodes was measured; calculated conduction velocities (mean +/- SD) were 55 +/- 6 m/s (left) and 57 +/- 6 m/s (right). In 38 additional canine cadavers, the lengths of the exposed left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves were correlated with neck length (r = 0.44 on left and 0.56 on right). A linear regression model is proposed for predicting normal latencies, despite variations in neck length among different breeds of dogs.
authors.affiliation: Scott-Ritchey Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL 36849.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Steiss
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*