Which statement best describes neurapraxia?

Prepare for the Tissue Injury, Healing, and Pain Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for the exam!

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes neurapraxia?

Neurapraxia is a mild peripheral nerve injury where the myelin around the axon is damaged but the axon and surrounding connective tissue remain intact. This causes a conduction block or slowing at the site of demyelination, while the axon itself is preserved. Because the axon isn’t disrupted, there is no Wallerian degeneration and recovery happens as remyelination occurs. The statement that conduction slows with preserved axon integrity due to segmental demyelination matches this pattern: myelin damage slows or blocks nerve signaling without breaking the axon. In contrast, what you’d see with axon disruption (Wallerian degeneration), a complete nerve transection, or axonal regrowth from the cell body points to more severe injuries than neurapraxia.

Neurapraxia is a mild peripheral nerve injury where the myelin around the axon is damaged but the axon and surrounding connective tissue remain intact. This causes a conduction block or slowing at the site of demyelination, while the axon itself is preserved. Because the axon isn’t disrupted, there is no Wallerian degeneration and recovery happens as remyelination occurs.

The statement that conduction slows with preserved axon integrity due to segmental demyelination matches this pattern: myelin damage slows or blocks nerve signaling without breaking the axon. In contrast, what you’d see with axon disruption (Wallerian degeneration), a complete nerve transection, or axonal regrowth from the cell body points to more severe injuries than neurapraxia.

More practice questions