What does reinnervation mean?
Reinnervation is the process by which a muscle, organ, or other tissue regains its nerve supply after that supply has been damaged or interrupted. It may occur naturally as nerves regenerate, or it may result from medical or surgical treatment intended to restore function. In muscle rehabilitation, the term is especially associated with the recovery of movement and strength after peripheral nerve injury. Reinnervation is related to, but not identical with, ordinary innervation: innervation means having a nerve supply, while reinnervation specifically means getting one again. The word is primarily used in medicine, neuroscience, physiology, and rehabilitation contexts. It is precise and technical rather than everyday, but it names an important biological mechanism involved in recovery after nerve damage.
nounThe restoration of nerve supply to a muscle, organ, or other tissue, especially after nerve injury or denervation; also the process by which this occurs.
- The restoration of nerve supply to a muscle, organ, or other tissue, especially after nerve injury, denervation, or surgical disruption.
"The patient showed significant muscle reinnervation several months after the nerve repair."
"Reinnervation was evident in the muscle after the damaged peripheral nerve began regenerating."
"The researchers studied how electrical stimulation might improve reinnervation following nerve repair."
The plural is uncommon and is mainly used when referring to separate instances or cases of reinnervation.
"The study compared patterns of reinnervations in injured and healthy muscles."
Reinnervation is the body’s way of reconnecting nerves with muscles, helping damaged tissue recover its signal pathway.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reinnervation come from?
Reinnervation was formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with innervation, the supply of nerves to an organ or body part. Both elements belong to the Latin-based vocabulary of innervation: innervation derives from Latin innervare, meaning “to supply with nerves or sinews,” while innervare itself contains nervus, the Latin word for “sinew, tendon, or nerve.” The modern medical meaning developed from this older anatomical terminology.
Related word forms
How reinnervation is actually used
This is a specialized medical and anatomical term. It is commonly used in discussions of nerve injury, muscle recovery, transplantation, and reinnervation following denervation.
Easily confused with reinnervation
Innervation is the nerve supply to a muscle or organ, whereas reinnervation is the restoration of that supply after it has been lost or interrupted.