The medical term "reaction of degeneration" refers to a condition where muscle fibers lose their ability to respond to electrical stimulation, often due to nerve damage. This term is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /riːˈækʃən əv dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/. The "r" is pronounced with a strong emphasis on the beginning, with a long "e" sound following. The "g" in "degeneration" is pronounced with a soft "j" sound, and the stress falls on the second syllable. The word "reaction" is pronounced with a long "i" and stress on the first syllable.
In medicine and neurology, the term "reaction of degeneration" refers to a characteristic pattern of electrical changes that occur in the nerves and muscles following severe injury or damage to a peripheral nerve. This condition is commonly associated with injuries, trauma, or diseases affecting the nerve roots, plexuses, or peripheral nerves.
The reaction of degeneration is characterized by a specific sequence of changes in the peripheral nerves and muscles. Initially, there is a loss or reduction in the nerve conduction velocity, leading to diminished or absent electrical signals traveling along the affected nerves. This results in a decrease or complete absence of muscle contraction response when the nerve is stimulated.
Over time, the affected muscles may undergo atrophy, as they gradually lose their strength and functionality. In addition, there may be alterations in muscle tone and reflexes due to the disruption of nerve signals.
The reaction of degeneration is considered a sign of severe nerve injury and is often associated with poor prognosis and long-term disability. Diagnosis of this condition is typically made through electrodiagnostic tests such as electromyography and nerve conduction studies.
In summary, the reaction of degeneration is a characteristic sequence of electrical changes that occur in the nerves and muscles following severe peripheral nerve injury. This condition is indicative of severe nerve damage and is associated with muscle weakness, atrophy, and altered reflexes.
The electrical r. in a degenerated nerve and the muscles supplied by it; it consists in absence of response to both galvanic and faradic stimulus in the nerve and to faradic stimulus in the muscles.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.