Chapter 14: Somatosensory Function, Pain, Headache, and Temperature Regulation

Question 1

Somatosensory Component of the Nervous System - Function

Answer 1

provides an awareness of body sensations such as touch, temperature limb position and pain

the sensory receptors consist of discrete nerve endings in the skin and other body tissues

Question 2

Four major modalities of sensory experience

Answer 2

1. discriminative touch
2. temperature sensation
3. body position
4. nociperception

Question 3

Discriminative pathway from spinal cord to thalamic level of sensation

Answer 3

• crosses at the base of the medulla and the anterolateral pathway
• relays information to the brain for perception, arousal, and motor control

Question 4

Anterolateral pathway from the spinal cord to thalamic level of sensation

Answer 4

• consists of bilateral multisynaptic slow-conducting tracts
• provide for transmission of sensory information that does require discrete localization of the signal source or fine discrimination of intensity

Question 5

Pain Transmission

Answer 5

• transmission to the somatosensory of cortex
• limbic system
• brain stem centers

Question 6

Pain Theory - Specificity Theory

Answer 6

pain as a separate sensory modality evoked by the activity of specific receptors that transmit information to pain centers in the forebrain

Question 7

Pain Theory - Pattern Theory

Answer 7

• pain receptors share endings or pathways with other sensory modalities
• different patterns of activity of the same neurons can be used to signal painful and non painful stimuli

Question 8

Pain Theory - Gate Control Theory

Answer 8

the presence of neural gating mechanisms at the segmental spinal cord level accounts for interactions between pain and other sensory modalities

Question 9

Pain Theory - Neuromatrix

Answer 9

the brain contains a widely distributed neural network, called the body-self neuromatric, that contains somatosensory, limbic and thalamocortical individual neural patterns

Question 10

Pain Threshold

Answer 10

the point at which a stimulus is perceived as painful

Question 11

Pain Tolerance

Answer 11

the maximum intensity or duration of pain that a person is willing to endure before the person wants something done about the pain

Question 12

Acute Pain

Answer 12

self-limiting pain that lasts less than 6 months

Question 13

Chronic Pain

Answer 13

• persistent pain that lasts longer than 6 months
• lacks the autonomic and somatic responses associated with acute pain
• is accompanied by debilitating responses

Question 14

Assessments of Pain

Answer 14

nature, severity, location, radiation

Question 15

Allodynia

Answer 15

pain from noninjurious stimuli to the skin

Question 16

Hyperalgesia

Answer 16

extreme sensitivity to pain

Question 17

Analgesia

Answer 17

the absence of pain from stimuli that normally would be painful

Question 18

Nociceptive Pain

Answer 18

Nociceptors (pain receptors) are activated in response to actual or impending tissue injury

Question 19

Neuropathic Pain

Answer 19

arises from direct injury to nerves

Question 20

Cutaneous Pain

Answer 20

• sharp, burning pain

- origin in skin or subcutaneous tissues

Question 21

Deep Somatic Pain

Answer 21

• more diffuse and throbbing

- origin in body structures

Question 22

Visceral Pain

Answer 22

• diffuse and poorly defined

- results from stretching, distention, or ischemia of tissues

Question 23

Referred Pain

Answer 23

originates at a visceral site but perceived as originating in part of the body wall that is innervated by neurons entering the same segment of the nervous system

Question 24

Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Pain

Answer 24

• cognitive behavioral: relaxation, distraction, imagery, biofeedback
• physical agents: heat and cold
• stimulus-induced analgesia
• acupuncture and acupressure

Question 25

Pharmacologic Treatment for Pain *****

Answer 25

• nonnarcotic Analgesics: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antiseizure medications, antidepressants
• opioid analgesics: morphine congeners

Question 26

Allodynia Pain Sensation

Answer 26

pain from noninjurious stimuli to the skin

Question 27

Hyperalgesia Pain Sensation

Answer 27

extreme sensitivity to pain

Question 28

Analgesia Pain Sensation

Answer 28

the absence of pain from stimuli that normally would be painful

Question 29

Hyperesthesia Pain Sensation

Answer 29

hyperexcitability to the pain stimulus

Question 30

Parasthesias Pain Sensation

Answer 30

pins and needles sensation that follows a temporary compression of a peripheral nerve

Question 31

Hyperpathia Pain Sensation

Answer 31

syndrome in which the sensory threshold is raised

Question 32

Analgesia Pain Sensation

Answer 32

relieve of pain without loss of consciousness

Question 33

Hypoalgesia Pain Sensation

Answer 33

reduced pain sensation

Question 34

Hypoesthesia Pain Sensation

Answer 34

reduced temperature sensation