Wallerian degeneration
Wallerian Degeneration
Wallerian degeneration (pronunciation: /wɔːˈlɪəriən dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/) is a process that results when a nerve fiber is cut or crushed, in which the part of the axon separated from the neuron's cell body degenerates distal to the injury. This is also known as anterograde or ascending degeneration.
Etymology
The term is named after the British neurologist, Augustus Volney Waller, who described the process in 1850.
Process
Wallerian degeneration occurs after the axon of a nerve is severed. The part of the axon connected to the cell body survives and can regenerate, while the part of the axon separated from the cell body degenerates. This process involves the breakdown of the myelin sheath, a protective layer that surrounds the axon.
Related Terms
- Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system.
- Axon: A long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.
- Myelin Sheath: A layer of fatty tissue encasing a neuron's axon that provides insulation, protection, and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses.
- Nervous System: The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve signals between different parts of the body.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Wallerian degeneration
- Wikipedia's article - Wallerian degeneration
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski