innervates

Innervates is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb innervate. It is used in anatomy and physiology to indicate that a nerve supplies a tissue or organ with nerve fibers, enabling neural control or sensation. In broader usage, innervation describes the distribution of nerve input to a body part.

An innervation can be afferent (sensory) or efferent (motor). It can be somatic, supplying skeletal muscle and conscious sensation, or autonomic/visceral, supplying smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. Many organs receive dual innervation, with inputs from different parts of the nervous system, such as the heart receiving both sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation.

Common examples include the tongue being innervated by the hypoglossal nerve for motor control, and the diaphragm being innervated by the phrenic nerve. The facial muscles are innervated by the facial nerve, and the skin receives innervation from cutaneous nerves arising from spinal or cranial sources. Patterns of innervation can vary in detail among individuals and species, but the basic principle is that nerve supply determines the functional output and sensory input of the target tissue.

Clinically, disruptions to innervation can lead to weakness, paralysis, numbness, or autonomic dysfunction in the affected region. Mapping innervation is essential in neurology, anesthesiology, and surgical planning, informing diagnostic approaches and interventions.