What does denervated mean?
Denervated describes muscle, tissue, or another body part that has been deprived of its nerve supply. The term is especially important in medicine and physiology, where interruption of a nerve can leave muscle fibers weakened, atrophied, or unable to contract normally under nervous control. The word can also describe a surgical or experimental procedure that deliberately removes or interrupts nerve connections. In general use, denervated should not be treated as a simple synonym for numb or paralysed: it specifies a particular anatomical condition involving the loss of nervous supply, while other symptoms may result from that condition. The related word denervation names the process or state, and innervated forms the clear contrast, meaning supplied with nerves. Denervated is consequently a useful term for understanding nerve injury, muscle degeneration, transplantation, and the physiological distinction between direct muscle stimulation and nerve-mediated control.
Having lost or lacking its nerve supply, especially as a result of nerve injury, disease, or deliberate interruption of innervation.
"The denervated muscle became progressively smaller after the nerve supplying it was damaged."
Chiefly used in medicine, physiology, and experimental biology.
To deprive an organ, muscle, or other body part of its nerve supply.
"The procedure denervated the muscle and disrupted its normal nervous control."
The verb is transitive and is less common in ordinary usage than the related adjective and noun denervation.
A denervated muscle may still respond to direct electrical stimulation, showing that the loss is of nerve control rather than the complete ability to contract.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does denervated come from?
Denervated is formed from denervate, a verb meaning to deprive something of its nerve supply. The word combines the English prefix de-, indicating removal or reversal, with nerve, ultimately from Latin nervus, meaning sinew or nerve, together with the verbal ending -ate; its past-participle form is denervated. The related word innervate uses the contrasting Latin prefix in-, meaning into or upon, and refers to supplying a body part with nerves.
Related word forms
How denervated is actually used
This is primarily a formal medical and physiological term. It describes the loss of nerve supply or innervation, not simply numbness, paralysis, or weakness, although those may be consequences. It is most commonly used with muscle, tissue, organs, and limbs.
Easily confused with denervated
Denervated tissue has lost or lacks its nerve supply, whereas innervated tissue receives nerve signals and can respond through nervous control.