Question:
Neuropraxia (the mildest grade of nerve injury) is best described as:
Neuropraxia (the mildest grade of nerve injury) is best described as:
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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
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recall Seddon’s classification of nerve injury.
Seddon graded nerve injury into three types of increasing severity: neuropraxia, axonotmesis and neurotmesis.
Step 2: Define neuropraxia.
Neuropraxia is the mildest injury. There is a physiological (functional) conduction block - typically from segmental demyelination - but the axon and all connective tissue layers (endoneurium, perineurium, epineurium) remain anatomically intact. Because the axon is not severed, there is no Wallerian degeneration, and recovery is complete and usually rapid (days to weeks).
Step 3: Contrast with the other grades.
In axonotmesis the axon and myelin are disrupted (Wallerian degeneration occurs) but the endoneurial tube/connective tissue is preserved, allowing axonal regrowth. In neurotmesis the entire nerve including its sheath (endoneurium/perineurium/epineurium) is divided, so spontaneous recovery is poor and surgical repair is usually needed.
Step 4: Match the options.
‘Endoneurium cut’ corresponds to axonotmesis/neurotmesis, and ‘sheath cut’ corresponds to neurotmesis. Only ‘physiological block’ describes neuropraxia.
Key fact: Neuropraxia = reversible physiological conduction block with an intact axon and no Wallerian degeneration.
Seddon graded nerve injury into three types of increasing severity: neuropraxia, axonotmesis and neurotmesis.
Step 2: Define neuropraxia.
Neuropraxia is the mildest injury. There is a physiological (functional) conduction block - typically from segmental demyelination - but the axon and all connective tissue layers (endoneurium, perineurium, epineurium) remain anatomically intact. Because the axon is not severed, there is no Wallerian degeneration, and recovery is complete and usually rapid (days to weeks).
Step 3: Contrast with the other grades.
In axonotmesis the axon and myelin are disrupted (Wallerian degeneration occurs) but the endoneurial tube/connective tissue is preserved, allowing axonal regrowth. In neurotmesis the entire nerve including its sheath (endoneurium/perineurium/epineurium) is divided, so spontaneous recovery is poor and surgical repair is usually needed.
Step 4: Match the options.
‘Endoneurium cut’ corresponds to axonotmesis/neurotmesis, and ‘sheath cut’ corresponds to neurotmesis. Only ‘physiological block’ describes neuropraxia.
Key fact: Neuropraxia = reversible physiological conduction block with an intact axon and no Wallerian degeneration.
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