Decreased size of nerve terminals

What it means

A reduction in the size of nerve terminals.

Nerve terminals are the output region of nerves located presynaptically and (in the case of chemical synapses) containing vesicles of chemical neurotransmitters. Presynaptic nerve terminals normally are larger in diameter than the axon and have the appearance of a bud. This feature can be demonstrated by muscle biopsy.

Rare diseases that can present with this2

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category