A proposed relationship between circumference and conduction velocity of unmyelinated axons from normal and regenerated cat hindlimb cutaneous nerves.

Data on the conduction velocities and circumferences of unmyelinated axons in cat hindlimb nerves obtained in two laboratories, each working independently of the other, have been brought together and compared. Results were obtained from normal, regenerated and deafferented nerves. Matching the conduction velocity and circumference distributions against one another suggested that conduction velocity (theta), in m/s, is linearly related to circumference (s), in microns, according to the equation theta = 0.24s. If this relationship is correct, it applies equally well to both sympathetic postganglionic and unmyelinated afferent axons.