Axonal degeneration generally follows a sequence of events:
Initial injury: Physical or chemical insults initiate the degeneration process. Calcium influx: Disruption of the axonal membrane allows calcium ions to flood into the axon, activating destructive enzymes. Cytoskeletal breakdown: The axonal cytoskeleton, composed of microtubules and neurofilaments, disintegrates. Wallerian degeneration: The segment of the axon distal to the injury site undergoes a well-characterized degenerative process. Phagocytosis: Glial cells such as microglia and Schwann cells engulf and remove the debris.
