BACKGREOUND: The speed of action of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants might be correlated with the drug potency and the receptor-plasma concentration gradient. However, because of dissociation constants (KDs) being masked by plasma concentration following systemic administration, we investigated the degrees C of train-of-four (TOF) fade at various stages of the measured first twitch height of TOF (T1) during recovery related to potency of various muscle relaxants using isolated forearm technique. METHODS: Thirty two volunteers of the conscious healthy adults who were not receiving any medication which might have influence neuromuscular transmission were involved in this study. The electrodes were applied over the ulnar nerve at the wrist and supramaximal transcutaneous single twitch stimulation (0.1 Hz) delivered by a peripheral nerve stimulator (Innervator, Fisher