antidromic
Pronunciation: an-tie-DROM-ik
Describes nerve impulse conduction in the direction opposite to normal physiological propagation.
Full Definition
Antidromic conduction refers to action potential propagation in the reverse direction along an axon, opposite to the normal orthodromic direction from cell body to terminal. This phenomenon can occur naturally in some circuits (such as axon reflexes) or be artificially induced through electrical stimulation. Antidromic activation is commonly used in neurophysiological experiments to identify specific cell types, test axonal connectivity, and study collision effects when orthodromic and antidromic impulses meet.
Usage
Usage note: Always contrasted with 'orthodromic' - ensure the directional context is clear in technical descriptions.
In Context
- "Antidromic stimulation of the optic nerve was used to identify retinal ganglion cells." — Visual system electrophysiology paper
- "The collision test confirmed antidromic activation of the recorded motoneuron." — Spinal cord research methods