Chapter 4 - Pain Flashcards
ischemia
an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles
somatic pain
pain that occurs when pain receptors in tissues (including the skin, muscles, skeleton, joints, and connective tissues) are activated
visceral pain
pain that originates in the organs and travels by sympathetic fibers
nociceptors
also called pain receptor; a sensory receptor for painful stimuli
bradykinin
a compound released in the blood in some circumstances that causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels
histamine
a compound which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of capillaries
prostaglandin
any of a group of compounds with varying hormone-like effects, notably the promotion of uterine contractions
pain threshold
the level of stimulation required to activate the nerve ending sufficiently for the individual to perceive pain
afferent fibers
a nerve fiber that carries sensory impulses to the central nervous system from receptors in the periphery
efferent fibers
a nerve fiber that carries sensory impulses away from the central nervous system towards the peripheral nervous system
myelinated A delta fibers
a type of afferent fiber that transmits impulses rapidly and that is responsible for the transmission of acute pain sensation
unmyelinated C fibers
a type of afferent fiber that transmits impulses slowly and that is responsible for the transmission of chronic pain sensations
dermatone
an area of skin in which sensory nerves derive from a single spinal nerve root
reticular formation
a mass of nerve cells and fibers situated primarily in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling autonomic functions (such as respiration), reflexive movement, posture and balance, and consciousness and the sleep-wake cycle
reticular activating system (RAS)
the network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
therapy involves the use of low-voltage electric currents to treat pain
opioids
substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects
endorphins
any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect
peptides
a compound consisting of two or more amino acids linked in a chain
neurotransmitter substance P
a neuropeptide (neurotransmitter) most known for its role in pain perception
enkephalin
a naturally occurring peptide that has potent painkilling effects and is released by neurons in the central nervous system and by cells in the adrenal medulla
dynorphin
a neuropeptide involved in pain, addiction and mood regulation
lipotropin
a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It promotes the release of fat reserves from the liver into the bloodstream
opiate receptor
any of various cell membrane receptors that can bind with morphine and other opiates
serotonin
a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vasoconstriction
receptor
a region of tissue, or a molecule in a cell membrane, which responds specifically to a particular neurotransmitter, hormone, antigen, or other substance
pallor
an unhealthy pale appearance
referred pain
pain perceived at a site distant from the source
phantom pain
pain that feels like it’s coming from a body part that’s no longer there
acute pain
pain that is sudden and severe, but short term
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury or inflammation to the temporomandibular joints
temporomandibular joints
the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull
ergotamine
a medicine used to treat or prevent a vascular headache
meningitis
a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges
gingivitis
a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums
periodontitis
a serious form of gum disease where the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or fall out
infarction
obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue, typically by a thrombus or embolus, causing local death of the tissue
thrombus
a blood clot formed in situ within the vascular system of the body and impeding blood flow
embolus
a blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit, or other object which has been carried in the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism
embolism
obstruction of an artery, typically by a clot of blood or an air bubble
in situ
(adverb or adjective) in the natural or original position or place
central pain
pain that is caused by dysfunction or damage to the brain or spinal cord
neuropathic pain
pain that is caused by trauma or disease involving the peripheral nerves
neuralgia
a stabbing, burning, and often severe pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve
causalgia
severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve
intractable
(1) not easily governed, managed, or directed; (2) not easily relieved or cured; (3) not easily manipulated or shaped
rhizotomy
a surgical procedure to sever nerve roots in the spinal cord
cordotomy
a surgical procedure that is used to relieve pain by cutting the nerves of the spinal cord
lidocaine
a synthetic compound used as a local anesthetic, e.g., for dental surgery, and in treating abnormal heart rhythms
myelin
a lipid-rich (fatty) substance that surrounds nerve cell axons (the nervous system’s “wires”) to insulate them and increase the rate at which electrical impulses (called action potentials) are passed along the axon.
