[The nerve entry into the human femoral quadriceps muscle]

Taking into account differing results about the distribution velocity of excitation processes in muscles after nerve stimulation we intended to prepare those branches of N. femoralis that were in close topographical relation to the caputs of M. quadriceps femoris. For reasons of interindividual comparability and of the possibility of studies in living human beings we decided to express the estimated "real entry height" as part of the total distance between Spina iliaca anterior superior and the proximal margin of the patella. In case of entering several nerve branches the same muscle the distance between the almost proximal and the almost distal branch was defined as the area of nerve entry. Our results give reason to suppose that there are great individual differences in the spatial organisation of innervation zones (motoric endplates). To further strengthen this idea investigation about the intramuscular route of the nerves as well as selective staining of motoric endplates are indispensable necessary.