Central Pain lecture Flashcards
Wide dynamic range neurons are called this because why?
Because they respond to more than one stimulus IE both heat and touch or touch and pressure and heat
What are the two neuron types in the medullary dorsal horn?
Nociceptive specific neurons
Wide dynamic range neurons
Can nociceptive specific neurons in the medullary dorsal horn have large receptive fields?
Yep, so one neuron could take care of a mandibular canine, mandibular premolar, and a maxillary premolar
Why can referred pain be partially explained by convergence of afferent nerves in the medullary dorsal horn?
Pain and non pain afferents converge on the pain signaling neuron
T/F referred pain only occurs under pathological conditions?
True
Peripheral sensitization occurs with ____ and ____ damage.
inflammation and nerve damage
What are the steps to central sensitization?
C-fiber is stimulated, resulting in acute pain or inflammation
MDH neuron response occurs- it is depolarized but substance P. The NMDA receptor is modified aka the Mg++ block is removed and now the previously ineffective A-fiber is not working because since the magnesium block was removed glutamate in now an effective neurotransmitter
Normal teeth have high pain thresholds. Inflamed teeth have much lower thresholds for pain. Adjacent healthy teeth also have a lower pain threshold. Why?
The inflamed teeth are sensitizing central neurons with input from healthy teeth to make them more sensitive
Is pain confined to the medullary dorsal horn?
Nope
If a trigeminal tractotomy is conducted, is pain sensation still present in the intraoral mucosa or the pulp of the tooth?
Yes and yes
N. submedius and the cingulate cortex are responsible for what component of pain?
Does the neural response outlast the stimulus?
Emotional component of pain
The neural response does outlast the stimulus- poor localization
T/F anxiety can increase pain perception?
True
T/F the placebo effect suppresses pain perception?
True
Anxiety and anterior cingulate cortex are linked.
Truth!
