Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Continued)
The differential diagnosis for AIDP needs to be carefully considered because the classic electrophysiologic features are often not present early in the disease process. Acute spinal cord lesions may be…
NEUROLOGY
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Mild cases of AIDP may never come to medical attention, but the typical presentation in those that seek medical assistance is one of acute ascending paralysis, which reaches its peak…
Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy
A careful history and neurologic examination is crucial in these patients. Family history is very important, particularly a history of painful feet and/or amputations. Neurologic examination should include testing of…
Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathies (HMSN, i.e., Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease)
The classifications of the different types of hereditary polyneuropathy were initially based on clinical and electrophysiologic features. More recently, however, advances in genetics have led to identification of many specific…
Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy Types I and II
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) distinguish predominantly demyelinating diseases, such as CMT1, from axonal neuropathies. In demyelinating neuropathies (e.g., CMT1a), conduction velocities are generally less than 60% of normal and may…
Other Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathies (Types III, IV, and X)
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein is often significantly increased. Nerve conduction studies may show absent sensory potentials and marked slowing of motor conduction velocity, with values in the range of…
Muscle and Joint Receptors
JOINT RECEPTORS Four types of receptors have been described in the joint capsule and ligaments. Golgitype endings are located in ligaments but not in the capsule, and are innervated by…
Proprioceptive Reflex Control of Muscle Tension
When muscle spindles respond to stretching or to a change in the length of a given muscle, there is increased activity in the Ia afferent fibers, which then directly stimulates…
Visceral Efferent Endings
Autonomic neuromuscular endings control such diverse functions as heart rate, intestinal and urogenital activity, pupillary size, and blood pressure. The mor phologic features of this type of ending are shown…
Cutaneous Receptors
Three types of receptors are common to glabrous and hairy skin: pacinian (lamellated) corpuscles, Merkel disks, and free nerve endings. The pacinian corpuscle has been identified as a quickly adapting…
