Nerve conduction study is invaluable in clinical neurology, especially for assessing peripheral neuropathies. Abnormal nerve conduction studies may result not only from peripheral nerve dysfunction itself, but also from other various mechanical, technical, and physiological factors such as age, sex, height and temperature. Recently developed electromechanics and standardization of the techniques minimize the variability of nerve conduction studies but physiological factors such as age, sex, and height are not correctable. This paper has analyzed the results of nerve conduction checkup of 50 Korean adults over the age.,,. of 20 (24 men and 26 women) without any suspicion of neurological defects to determine the effect of differences in physiological factors like age, sex and examined segments on the nerve conduction. This study was carried out from March, 2000 to October, 2000. The results are as follows
1. The statistically significant delay in the velocity of sensory and motor nerve conduction was observed in the wrist-elbow segment of the male ulnar (P <0.05). 2. The statistically significant delay in the velocity of motor nerve conduction was observed in the cross elbow segment of the female ulnar (P <0.05).
3. The velocity of nerve conduction in the proximal segments was faster than those in the distal segments.
4. The velocity of nerve conduction was found to be faster in the upper extremities than in the lower counterparts.
5. A significant decline in the velocity of nerve conduction was noted in the over-60-year old group (P <0.05).
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