Question:medium

Neuropraxia (the mildest grade of nerve injury) is best described as:

Show Hint

Mildest Seddon grade - conduction blocked but axon and sheath stay intact.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
  • A reversible physiological conduction block with intact axon
  • Cut/disruption of the endoneurium
  • Cut/disruption of the nerve sheath (epineurium)
  • Complete transection of the whole nerve trunk
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Nerve injuries are ranked by Seddon from least to most severe: neuropraxia < axonotmesis < neurotmesis. The question asks for the essence of the mildest grade.

Neuropraxia means the nerve simply stops conducting across a segment - a physiological block, usually due to focal demyelination or compression - while the axon itself and every surrounding connective-tissue layer stay structurally intact. Because no axon is cut, distal Wallerian degeneration does not occur, and once the demyelinated segment remyelinates, conduction returns fully, often within days to a few weeks.

$\text{Neuropraxia: conduction blocked,\ axon intact,\ no Wallerian degeneration}$

By contrast, &ldquo;endoneurium cut&rdquo; reflects axonotmesis/neurotmesis where the axon is interrupted, and &ldquo;sheath cut&rdquo; reflects neurotmesis with complete division requiring surgical repair. Therefore the correct description of neuropraxia is a reversible physiological conduction block.

\[\boxed{\text{Physiological (reversible) conduction block, axon intact}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0