There is increased galvanic excitability in the muscle is associated with which reaction?

• A. Accompanies partial reaction of degeneration
• B. Accompanies full reaction of degeneration
• C. Accompanies absolute reaction of degeneration
• D. Reaction of degeneration is not involved

Answer: (A)

Galvanic excitability describes how readily a muscle responds to direct-current stimulation. After nerve injury, the muscle goes through degeneration stages. In the partial reaction of degeneration, some muscle fibers remain innervated or are only partially denervated, and the muscle membrane becomes more sensitive to direct current. This heightened sensitivity makes galvanic stimulation more likely to elicit a contraction, so you observe increased galvanic excitability at this stage. As degeneration progresses to full or absolute stages, most fibers deteriorate and the muscle loses this responsiveness, so the galvanic response is diminished. Therefore, increased galvanic excitability fits with the partial reaction of degeneration.