Peripheral neuropathy is a lesion of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS helps relay sensory information to the brain and spinal cord. The brain, in turn, will send communication back to the PNS in order to perform specific motor functions. Damage to any part of the PNS can lead to a variety of symptoms, including tingling, tingling, numbness, muscle wasting, and even paralysis. It is known that there are approximately 100 different types of peripheral neuropathies and they are classified according to the nerves they affect: sensory, motor or autonomic. There are several causes of nerve damage, including physical trauma, autoimmune diseases, tumors, toxins and metabolic disorders. Of these, physical injuries are the most common and can occur as a result of accidents or falls. Nerve damage can have several consequences, including complete severance, crushing, stretching, and even complete detachment of the spinal cord. Once a nerve injury has occurred, there are several ways to diagnose the extent of the damage. These may include a CT scan, MRI, nerve conduction velocity (NCV), nerve biopsy, and skin biopsy. Treatments continue to develop as more research becomes available, but optimism reigns when it comes to stem cells and nerve regeneration. Several methods are used in nerve regeneration, but the journal article “Adipose stem cells stimulate peripheral nerve regeneration”: BDNF secreted by these cells promotes nerve healing and axon growth. De Novo” focuses on stem cells. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) have shown beneficial effects on peripheral nerve repair. Although it seems logical to harvest Schwann cells for this purpose, the process is very traumatic, and ASCs are much...... middle of paper...... promotes nerve healing and growth de novo axons. PlosOne, 6(3). Retrieved November 20, 2011 from http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0017899Miller, B. (nd). Nerve damage in military personnel in the center of the website. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/12076.aspxPeripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (nd). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved November 20, 2011 from http://ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm#183583208 Sulaiman, WA and Kline, DG (2006). Nerve surgery: assessment and glimpses of its future. Clinical Neurosurgery, 53, 38-47. Accessed November 20, 2011 from www.cns.org/publications/clinical/53/pdf/cnb00106000038.pdf