somatosensory evoked potential
Also written as: SSEP — Somatosensory Evoked Potential
A neurophysiological test that measures electrical brain responses to repetitive stimulation of peripheral sensory nerves, primarily used to assess sensory pathway integrity.
Full Definition
Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) testing is a specialized neurophysiological procedure that evaluates the functional integrity of sensory pathways from peripheral nerves through the spinal cord to the brain cortex. The test involves repetitive electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves (commonly median, ulnar, tibial, or peroneal nerves) while recording the resulting electrical responses from multiple points along the pathway, including spinal cord, brainstem, and cortical levels. SSEP testing is valuable for detecting subclinical lesions, monitoring spinal cord function during surgery, and assessing the extent of nervous system damage in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or peripheral neuropathy. The test provides objective information about sensory pathway conduction that cannot be obtained through clinical examination alone.
Usage
Usage note: Use full term in formal reports; SSEP acceptable in informal contexts
In Context
- "Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring detected early signs of spinal cord compromise during the procedure." — Surgical monitoring report
- "The somatosensory evoked potential study revealed prolonged central conduction times consistent with demyelinating disease." — Neurophysiology report