AXONAL REACTION Meaning and
Definition
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Axonal reaction, also known as Wallerian degeneration or Wallerian reaction, refers to a series of cellular and molecular changes that occur following a nerve injury, particularly the severance of an axon. This phenomenon is named after Augustus Waller, an English physiologist who first described the process in the mid-19th century.
When an axon is damaged or cut, the axonal reaction is initiated, leading to a cascade of events that ultimately result in the degeneration of the severed portion of the nerve fiber. The process begins with the disintegration of the axon and myelin sheath, followed by the fragmentation and dissolution of the axonal organelles. Macrophages and Schwann cells, a type of glial cell found in the peripheral nervous system, invade the site of injury and phagocytose the debris left behind by the degenerating axon.
This reaction is accompanied by numerous cellular and molecular changes within and around the injured nerve, which include changes in gene expression, the release of various signaling molecules, and alterations in the morphology and function of glial cells. Additionally, the neighboring intact axons may undergo structural modifications and sprout new branches to establish connections with the denervated targets, a process known as collateral sprouting or synaptic plasticity.
Axonal reaction is an essential part of the regenerative response to nerve injury. By clearing the debris and enabling the restructuring of neural connections, the axonal reaction creates an environment suitable for nerve regeneration and functional recovery.
Common Misspellings for AXONAL REACTION
- zxonal reaction
- sxonal reaction
- wxonal reaction
- qxonal reaction
- azonal reaction
- aconal reaction
- adonal reaction
- asonal reaction
- axinal reaction
- axknal reaction
- axlnal reaction
- axpnal reaction
- ax0nal reaction
- ax9nal reaction
- axobal reaction
- axomal reaction
- axojal reaction
- axohal reaction
- axonzl reaction
- axonsl reaction
Etymology of AXONAL REACTION
The word "axonal" is derived from the term "axon", which refers to a long, slender extension of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses. The term "reaction" indicates a response or change in a biological system. Therefore, "axonal reaction" describes a response or change that occurs in the axons of nerve cells.
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