This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Pathogenesis of peripheral nerve diseases

Authoring team

Two pathological processes predominate in diseases of peripheral nerves:

  • axonal degeneration:
    • severely damaged axons degenerate distally
    • within a week the nerve becomes electrically inert
    • muscle fibres supplied by damaged motor nerves atrophy
    • EMG records show fibrillation potentials
    • axons may regrow at about 1 mm/day
    • undamaged motor fibres sprout to supply more muscle fibres

  • demyelination:
    • demyelination of peripheral nerve fibres initially leaves the axon intact
    • the result is blockage or slowing of conduction
    • pressure or entrapment neuropathies are primarily caused by demyelination
    • inflammatory processes e.g. Guillan-Barre are caused by demyelination

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.