| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to review the interactions of the skeletal and sympathetic nervous systems during normal growth and function as well as in pathology. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that the sympathetic nervous system may play a role in the severity of arthritis and in bone lesions evident in reflex sympathetic dystrophy. In experimental animal studies, bone deposition and mineralization significantly decreased, while bone resorption was significantly increased after sympathectomy. The findings form a basis for understanding the effects of autonomic dysfunction on the skeleton and indicate areas in which further research may have implications for the treatment of skeletal disorders. |
