Nerve conduction study
Nerve Conduction Study
A Nerve Conduction Study (NCS), also known as a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test, is a medical diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the function, especially the ability of electrical conduction, of the motor and sensory nerves of the human body. Pronounced as /nɜːrv kənˈdʌkʃən ˈstʌdi/, the term is derived from the Latin words 'nervus' meaning nerve, 'conductio' meaning conduction, and 'studium' meaning study.
Procedure
The Nerve Conduction Study involves stimulating the nerve at various points with small electrical shocks, artificially activating them to study the electric response. This response is then measured by the electrodiagnostic equipment and interpreted by a specialist to determine if the nerve is working normally.
Purpose
The main purpose of a Nerve Conduction Study is to identify damage to the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves that lead away from the brain and spinal cord and the smaller nerves that branch out from those nerves. This test is often used to diagnose nerve disorders, such as a peripheral neuropathy or a carpal tunnel syndrome.
Related Terms
- Electromyography: A diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them.
- Neurophysiology: The study of the functioning of the nervous system.
- Neuropathy: Disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, typically causing numbness or weakness.
See Also
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