More on the regeneration of amputated digits: It has long been observed that some children have regrown the tips of their fingers after amputation—but regeneration does not happen if more than the nail region has been removed.
Researchers have found that the digit bones can regenerate only if the amputated stump still contains some nail stem cells as well as a crucial zone of tissue that grows from the stem cells during normal nail growth. This tissue, after an amputation, sends signals that attract new nerves into the end of the stump that begins the regeneration process. Under normal circumstances, if amputation removes this critical nail tissue zone, the digits will not regenerate.
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