NEUROPATHY-AXONAL DEGENERATION (DENERVATION)

SUMMARY

1. Wallerian degeneration: axon & myelin sheath distal to the injury degenerate.

2. Length-dependent degeneration: most distal part of the axon degenerates (i.e. it 'dies back').

3. The longest nerves (i.e. those that reach the toes/feet) are the first to be affected.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].