Nerves · Nervous System · Medium

Neurolysis

Meaning: A procedure to free a nerve from scar tissue or deliberately destroy it to relieve pain.

In practice: Surgical neurolysis released the ulnar nerve from dense scar tissue at the elbow.

Word parts

  • neuro- means nerve
  • -lysis means breaking down

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Quick check

Two questions on related nerves words.

Which word means: Increased sensitivity to touch or other sensations, so that normal stimuli feel abnormally intense.

Which word means: The longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back to the foot.

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Related words

More nerves terms · All medical words