Final answer:
The nerve most susceptible to injury during venipuncture is the median nerve, due to its proximity to the median cubital vein which is commonly used for drawing blood. The peripheral nervous system, to which the median nerve belongs, is more vulnerable to injury compared to the central nervous system because it lacks certain protective features.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nerve most susceptible to injury during venipuncture is the median nerve. This nerve can be inadvertently damaged when blood is drawn from the median cubital vein, particularly as the vein is in close proximity to the nerve. The median nerve serves the anterior forearm and thenar muscles, as well as the skin of the lateral half of the palm and the palmar aspects of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and lateral half of the ring finger. Ensuring proper technique and needle placement is essential for phlebotomists and healthcare providers to minimize the risk of injury. It is particularly important for those with a higher risk of infections, such as drug addicts, and for those with higher risk of needle sticks, such as phlebotomists and dentists.
Unlike the central nervous system (CNS), which is protected by bones, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has no such protections. The PNS also has no blood-brain barrier, making it more subject to injury and diseases such as diabetes, infectious diseases like shingles, and poisoning by toxins such as heavy metals. Symptoms of PNS disorders include loss of feeling, tingling, burning sensations, or muscle weakness. Traumatic injury to nerves, if severe, can lead to slow and incomplete regeneration.