Question

Description 1. Wallerian Degeneration A) describes what happens to the axon when there is myelinopathy B) is a specific disease C) rarely occurs in response to traumatic injury to the axon D) None of the above 2. Explain in 3 sentences or less what is the difference between regeneration and denervation. 3. Explain in 2 sentences or less how a muscle fiber that lost its connection to a motor neuron could regain a connection to a motor neuron.

Answer 1

1) Wallerian degeneration describes what happens to the axons when there is myelinopathy.

2)Regeneration and Denervation are two entirely different processes.

Regeneration refers to the restoration of the cell and their growth providing them ability to withstand varying natural conditions whereas denervation is the process of disruption of neural activity resulting from a blockage in the neural connections (both in CNS and PNS) which may be a nerve cut (axonal cut) or a blockage of the neural connection using drugs.

3)A muscle that has lost its connection to a motor neuron regains its connection by nerve sprouting and myogenesis.

Nerve sprouting occurs in the axons that have escaped an injury which shoot out sprouts for the reinnervation (regaining the connection).

Myogenesis is the process of generation of nerve fibres in an attempt to regain the neuromuscular connection.