A diagnostic test in a doctor’s physical examination involving the tapping of the skin over an injured area to elicit a tingling sensation from a nerve. The Tinel sign may be used by a physician as part of the procedure for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome. In this case, the skin of the wrist is tapped at the point where the tunnel compresses the nerve as it enters the palm. If carpal tunnel syndrome is present, this stimulus may elicit tingling in the nerve of the hand. The Tinel sign is also a valuable indication that an injured nerve is undergoing repair and beginning to regenerate.
A cutaneous tingling sensation produced by pressing on or tapping the nerve trunk that has been damaged or is regenerating following trauma.