Definition

1. Noun:
   • The distribution of nerve fibers to an organ or body region: This refers to the pattern or process by which nerves supply a specific part of the body with neural connections.
   • The neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland: This refers to the stimulation or activation of a tissue by nerve impulses.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon carefully studied the innervation of the heart before the procedure. (This describes the pattern of nerve supply to the heart.)
  • Muscle contraction depends on proper innervation from the spinal cord. (This describes the nerve supply enabling function.)
  • The experiment measured the gland's response to sympathetic innervation. (This describes the stimulating nerve input to a gland.)

Advanced Usage

• "Dual innervation": A term describing an organ receiving nerve fibers from both divisions of the autonomic nervous system (e.g., sympathetic and parasympathetic).

  • The heart has dual innervation, which allows for precise control of heart rate.

• "Denervation": The loss or removal of nerve supply to an organ or tissue, often the opposite state of innervation.

  • Denervation of the muscle led to its atrophy.

Variants and Related Words

• Innervate (verb): To supply an organ or body part with nerves; to stimulate a nerve impulse.

  • These neurons innervate the skin of the hand.

• Innervated (adjective): Describing a tissue that has a nerve supply.

  • The highly innervated cornea is very sensitive to touch.

Synonyms

• Nerve supply: The provision of nerves to a region.
• Neural input: The signals or stimulation provided by nerves.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Motor innervation: The nerve supply to muscles, controlling movement.

  • Damage to the motor innervation results in paralysis.

• Sensory innervation: The nerve supply that carries sensory information (like touch or pain) from a region to the central nervous system.

  • The sensory innervation of the face is very complex.

Noun

1. the distribution of nerve fibers to an organ or body region
2. the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland