Anatomy of the Nerve
摘要
The anatomy of peripheral nerves is defined by a clear structural organization crucial for their function and resilience. The nerve is encapsulated by the epineurium, a fibrous and vascularized external layer allowing mobility of the nerve within its surrounding tissues and stretching to a certain degree without lesioning. Internally, the perineurium forms a protective barrier around the nerve fascicles which contain the nerve fibers called axons, while the endoneurium encases individual myelinated axons. Axons represent the smallest functional unit of a nerve and are classified by their size and conduction velocity into myelinated (Groups A and B) and unmyelinated (Group C), with the Schwann cells playing a key role in insulation and signal conduction.