Nerve injury and regeneration

Question 1

What are the three components of nerve injury & regeneration

Answer 1

1. Most Axons Are Myelinated:
2. When Nerves Can Repair Themselves:
3. The Repair Process:

Question 2

Explain further on most axons being myelinated.

Answer 2

Axons (the long parts of nerve cells) are usually covered by a layer called myelin. Myelin helps signals travel faster along the nerve.

Question 3

When can nerves repair themselves?

Answer 3

Nerves can only repair themselves if:
- The injury happens in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).

• The injury occurs near the end of the axon (the part farthest from the cell body)

Question 4

Explain what the repair process is for nerve injury & regeneration

Answer 4

1. When an axon is injured (shown here as a lesion), the damaged part starts breaking down, leaving behind myelin debris.
2. A process called Wallerian degeneration happens, where the damaged part of the axon is cleared away.
3. If the conditions are right, the nerve can form a growth cone that helps it regenerate and grow back toward its target.

Question 5

Finish this sentence - Nerves can only repair themselves if:

Answer 5

1. Injury occurs in the PNS
2. Injury occurs near the distal end of the axon