SSEP Practice Questions & Answers |
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
Exam Prep 2026/2027
When recording a posterior tibial nerve SSEP, the Fpz ‐ C5s channel records
subcortical far ‐ field potentials
In the 10 ‐ 20 system of electrode placement, the point 20% (of the nasion‐inion distance)
anterior to Cz is called
Fz
An electrode measured 20% lateral to Cz on the right using 10 ‐ 20 system is
C4
P14 is a far ‐ field, subcortically generated response which probably reflects
caudal medial lemniscal activity
If over three hours the PTN cortical response attenuates while subcortical is stable:
Keep monitoring subcorticals
In general, filter settings for SEP recordings
can be narrower for cortical than peripheral responses
The initial waveform recorded of a near ‐ field PTN cortical potential is
positive due to electrotonic depolarization of the membrane under the recording electrode
A patient is admitted to the operating room diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc at C 5/6.
The most appropriate nerve(s) to monitor during the resulting surgical procedure would be
the:
median and posterior tibial nerves
An advantage of referential, as opposed to bipolar recording of spinal cord somatosensory
evoked potentials, is
avoiding cancellation of the potentials as a result of recording from adjacent levels
, What is the main advantage of asynchronous bilateral stimulation?
Differentiation of local vs. systemic effects
Which of the following is the best monitoring strategy for a C7 fracture:
Ulnar and PTN
Median nerve SEP produces a wave at the brachial plexus designated
N9
The SEP reaches adult form and latency by
8 years
SEP stimulating electrodes should be
placed with the negative electrode proximal
The median nerve SSEP can be helpful as a measure of
cerebral blood flow
The duration of a monophasic, rectangular pulse used for somatosensory stimulation should
be
0.2ms
Somatosensory evoked potentials are most likely to be highly variable and less reliable in
patients with
neuromuscular disease
Lower extremity SEPs are transmitted through the
gracilis nucleus
Stimulation of the motor pathway at the spinal cord can be achieved with little movement in
the surgical field by
increasing the stimulation rate enough to produce muscle tetany
Which of the following upper extremity somatosensory responses is considered a "stationary
potential"?
N13
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
Exam Prep 2026/2027
When recording a posterior tibial nerve SSEP, the Fpz ‐ C5s channel records
subcortical far ‐ field potentials
In the 10 ‐ 20 system of electrode placement, the point 20% (of the nasion‐inion distance)
anterior to Cz is called
Fz
An electrode measured 20% lateral to Cz on the right using 10 ‐ 20 system is
C4
P14 is a far ‐ field, subcortically generated response which probably reflects
caudal medial lemniscal activity
If over three hours the PTN cortical response attenuates while subcortical is stable:
Keep monitoring subcorticals
In general, filter settings for SEP recordings
can be narrower for cortical than peripheral responses
The initial waveform recorded of a near ‐ field PTN cortical potential is
positive due to electrotonic depolarization of the membrane under the recording electrode
A patient is admitted to the operating room diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc at C 5/6.
The most appropriate nerve(s) to monitor during the resulting surgical procedure would be
the:
median and posterior tibial nerves
An advantage of referential, as opposed to bipolar recording of spinal cord somatosensory
evoked potentials, is
avoiding cancellation of the potentials as a result of recording from adjacent levels
, What is the main advantage of asynchronous bilateral stimulation?
Differentiation of local vs. systemic effects
Which of the following is the best monitoring strategy for a C7 fracture:
Ulnar and PTN
Median nerve SEP produces a wave at the brachial plexus designated
N9
The SEP reaches adult form and latency by
8 years
SEP stimulating electrodes should be
placed with the negative electrode proximal
The median nerve SSEP can be helpful as a measure of
cerebral blood flow
The duration of a monophasic, rectangular pulse used for somatosensory stimulation should
be
0.2ms
Somatosensory evoked potentials are most likely to be highly variable and less reliable in
patients with
neuromuscular disease
Lower extremity SEPs are transmitted through the
gracilis nucleus
Stimulation of the motor pathway at the spinal cord can be achieved with little movement in
the surgical field by
increasing the stimulation rate enough to produce muscle tetany
Which of the following upper extremity somatosensory responses is considered a "stationary
potential"?
N13
