Cited by 629Peripheral Nerve DisordersIon channel regulation and functionNerve injury and regeneration

Determinants of conduction velocity in myelinated nerve fibers

Waxman, Stephen G.·1980·Muscle & Nerve

Abstract

This article reviews the determinants of conduction velocity in myelinated nerve fibers. For fibers exhibiting geometric similarity, conduction velocity is nearly proportional to diameter. However, in classes of geometrically similar fibers, myelin thickness and internode distance are linearly related to diameter. Therefore, it is not possible to assess the relative contributions of each of these factors. The relative effects of changes in each of these parameters on conduction velocity can be assessed from studies on fibers representing different similarity classes or from theoretical parametric studies. These studies show that for a fixed axon diameter, conduction velocity increases with myelin thickness. For a fixed total fiber diameter, there is an optimal ratio of axon diameter to total fiber diameter (and therefore to myelin thickness) at which conduction velocity is maximized. Conduction velocity is dependent on internode distance, with a broad maximum centered around the value observed in normal peripheral fibers. Conduction velocity is also dependent on temperature and the properties of the axonal milieu. Thus, the conduction speed of any given fiber reflects a number of parameters and is not determined by any single structural characteristic.

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Crossref · 10.1002/mus.880030207

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Authors
Waxman, S. G.
Affiliations
Stanford Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Waxman, Stephen G.
Venue
Muscle & Nerve
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1980-03
Volume
3
Issue
2
Pages
141-150
ISSN
  • 0148-639X (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-4598
OpenAlex
W2081771004
Cited by
629
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 18
FWCI
5.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Muscle & Nerve (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Peripheral Nerve Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
Keywords
conduction velocity, myelinated axons, myelin thickness, internode distance, axon diameter, geometric similarity, peripheral nerves, temperature effects
MeSH terms
Animals, Computers, Fishes, Ion Channels, Models, Neurological, Myelin Sheath, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Nerve Regeneration, Neural Conduction, Ranvier's Nodes, Temperature, Time Factors

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