Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology II: Extracellular Suction Electrode Fabrication
Published on: February 20, 2011
[Neurophysiology of the development and maturation of the peripheral nervous system]
A García-García1, J Calleja-Fernández
1Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España. nflgga@humv.es
Introduction:
Peripheral nerve maturation accounts during fetal life and infancy and varies with age. Nerve conduction studies are an objective procedure to investigate the development of the motor and sensory nerves.
Method:
We present a review of peripheral nervous system maturation studies in infancy, including our normal control group of infants from 1 week to 6 years of age. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity at birth is about one-half that of the normal adults, increases very quickly during the first year of life and reaches adult values between 3 and 5 years of age. All these electrophysiologic changes parallel the increase in numbers of large myelinated fibres throughout infancy.
Conclusions:
Nerve conduction studies are an accurate and non-invasive method of evaluating the peripheral nerve maturation in paediatric population when motor and sensory functions are particularly difficult to assess clinically.
Related Concept Videos
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
Peripheral Nervous System: Ganglia and Nerves
Nerves
The nerve is a bundle of axons that serves as the communication highway in the PNS. Each nerve is ensheathed in a protective layer of connective tissue called the epineurium. This outermost layer safeguards the nerve and supports the...
Nervous Tissue: Myelin
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Organization of the Nervous System
The CNS, comprising the brain and spinal cord, houses billions of neurons. The brain is housed in the skull, while the spinal cord is linked to the brain through the foramen magnum of the occipital bone and is surrounded by the protective structure of the vertebral column. It is responsible for processing various...
Neurulation
Neuroplasticity

