reinnervation

noun

re·​in·​ner·​va·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌi-(ˌ)nər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce reinnervation (audio)
-i-ˌnər-
: the process of innervating a part of the body that has lost nerve supply (as from injury or disease) : the restoration of function to a denervated body part and especially a muscle by supplying it with nerves through regrowth or grafting
reinnervation of the biceps
reinnervate
(ˌ)rē-i-ˈnər-ˌvāt How to pronounce reinnervation (audio)
-ˈi-(ˌ)nər-
transitive verb
reinnervated; reinnervating
… many polio survivors regain function as their muscles are reinnervated by neighboring motor axons that extend axonal sprouts to the orphaned fibers … The Journal of the American Medical Association

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reinnervation was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near reinnervation

Cite this Entry

“Reinnervation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reinnervation. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

reinnervation

noun
re·​in·​ner·​va·​tion ˌrē-ˌin-(ˌ)ər-ˈvā-shən, -in-ˌər- How to pronounce reinnervation (audio)
: the process of innervating a part of the body that has lost nerve supply (as from injury or disease) : the restoration of function to a denervated body part and especially a muscle by supplying it with nerves through regrowth or grafting
reinnervate transitive verb
reinnervated; reinnervating
When a nerve is transected, the axons within the nerve will attempt to regenerate and grow to eventually reinnervate the distal limb. Marisol A. Hanley et al.
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