reinnervation

noun

re·​in·​ner·​va·​tion (ˌ)rē-ˌi-(ˌ)nər-ˈvā-shən 

-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 

-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

Medical Definition

reinnervation

noun

re·​in·​ner·​va·​tion ˌrē-ˌin-(ˌ)ər-ˈvā-shən, -in-ˌər- 

: 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

-in-ˈər-ˌvāt  -ˈin-(ˌ)ər- 

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.