Central modulation of pain

Question 1

Pain

Answer 1

An undesirable sensory and emotional experience associated with real tissue damage. Leads to producing a reflex and conscious preventive response to protect body from actual damage

Question 2

What plays a role in an injury resulting in less pain than would be expected?

Answer 2

-emotional state (adrenaline)
-attention (distractions)
-expectations
-exposure to chronic pain (repetitive stimuli)
-altered pain threshold/experience

Question 3

What is the pain modulating region of the brain?

Answer 3

Periaqueductal grey matter (PAG)

Question 4

Feedback loop of central modulation of pain

Answer 4

PAG receives pain signal AND takes into account the animals attention, emotional state and expectations. Passes information back to the brainstem nuclei which will then travel and release NE to the post synaptic of the pain relay neuron and will stop it from having another AP/sending information cranially

Question 5

What role do alpha 2 agonists play in central modulation?

Answer 5

Alpha 2 agonists (xylazine, dexmedeomidine) will bind to NE receptors and block the pain transmission back to the brain

**mimics the NE released from the brainstem

Question 6

Opioids role in central modulation of pain **double check!

Answer 6

Endogenous opioids (serotonin, endorphrins, NE) are released by PAG, which can bind to post synaptic cell inhibiting the cell from making AP= decrease perception of painful stimuli

Question 7

Keys when approaching analgesia

Answer 7

-drug mechanism of action
-dose
-pre-emptive analgesia- calming animal or modulating pain ahead of time