AAPC Anatomy Practice Exam

The term that describes the destruction of a nerve or nervous tissue is neurolysis. This process involves the breakdown and removal of nerve tissue, which may be performed therapeutically in certain medical conditions, such as when a nerve is entrapped or damaged. Neurolysis can help to alleviate pain or restore some level of function affected by nerve issues.

In contrast, neuropathy refers to a variety of conditions that affect the peripheral nerves, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness, but it does not specifically denote destruction. Neuralgia describes the intense pain that occurs along a nerve or nerves, often indicating irritation or injury rather than destruction. Neurosis pertains to a category of mental health disorders characterized by anxiety and emotional distress, but it does not involve nerve destruction or damage. Thus, neurolysis is distinctly the term that accurately represents the destruction of nerve or nervous tissue.