Abterminal is a term used to describe the flow of
electrical current in a muscle, in which the current
moves away from the end and towards the center. In
the field of medicine, the term is usually used in
reference to electrical current passing through the
center of a muscle and moving towards the center of
a nerve. The term is used in reference to nerve
conduction studies and electromyographies (EMG).
Nerve conduction studies are tests used to evaluate the function of motor and sensory
nerves, particularly their ability to conduct electricity. EMGs are techniques for recording
and evaluating the electrical activity of the skeletal muscles. Electrical currents pass
from tendons to other types of muscle. Tendons are groups of fibers that attach muscles
Another definition of abterminal is the secondary (temporary) electrical current observed
at any point in the nerve or muscle on the passage of an induced electric shock. In
medicine, the term can be used in reference to electroconvulsive therapy, which is the
process of causing convulsions (abnormal, severe, involuntary muscle movements) by
passing controlled levels of electricity through the brain. Abterminal comes from the Latin
word “ab” meaning “from” and the Latin word “terminus” meaning “end.” Put the words
together and you get “from (the) end.”