Anatomy and Physiology of Pain Flashcards
4 processes of pain signalling
transduction
transmission
perception
modulation
transduction of pain
noxious stimuli translated into electrical activity at sensory nerve endings
transmission of pain
propagation of impulses along pain pathways
how many neurones of the pain pathway
3
what do nociceptors detect
tissue damage
which organ has no nociceptors
brain
what activates TRPV1 channels
heat, acid, capsaicin, mustard, wasabi
what activates TRPM8 channels
cold, menthol
what activates ASIC channels
h+ - Acid Sensing Ion Channel
what family of channels are important in temperature nociception
TRP family
what happens when a nociceptor is activated
signals sent along primary afferent sensory neurone
what effects speed of transmission along a neurone
myelination
axon diameter
which axon types carry ‘1st pain’ and ‘2nd pain’
1st - A delta
2nd - C
what are remak bundles
clusters of C fibres
what are NaVs and how many subtypes are there
voltage gated sodium channels
9
which NaV is heavily implicated in pain transmission
NaV1.7
what conditions are caused by gain of function and loss of function mutations in NaV1.7 channels
gain - inherited erythromelalgia
loss - congenital insensitivity to pain
congenital insensitivity to pain
rare condition where patient cannot feel pain
inherited erythromelalgia
neuropathy causing severe chronic burning pain in hands and feet
risks of congenital insensitivity to pain
wounds, broken bones, and health issues not detected
bone breaks heal badly as not treated
babies chew fingers, lips, tongue, etc
congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
inability to feel pain and temperature, and decreased or absent sweating
what causes congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
TRKA gene mutation -> decreased nerve growth factor -> decr A delta and C fibres
what causes diabetic neuropathy and where are effects most common
high or fluctuating blood glucose damage nerves
legs and feet
how many laminae in the dorsal horn, and entire spinal cord
5 in dorsal horn
10 across whole cord
which laminae of the dorsal horn do A delta nociceptor axons synapse to and what NT is released
lamina I
glutamate
what cells do C fibre nociceptor axons synapse to to indirectly activate lamina I cells
lamina II interneurons
what is caused when lamina II interneurons become spontaneously active
neuropathic pain
what part of the spinal cord do axons of projection neurons decussate in
anterior white commissure
projection neuron
second order neurones with cell body in dorsal horn
2 major ascending pathways carrying sensory info to the brain
spinothalamic tract
DCML
2 sub tracts within the spinothalamic tract
anterior spinothalamic
lateral spinothalamic
which spinothalamic tract mainly conducts crude light touch and pressure
anterior spinothalamic