Chapter 7

Question 1

Somatic nervous system

Answer 1

The part of the PNS that serves the skin and voluntary muscles.

Question 2

Afferent neurons

Answer 2

Sensory neurons that relay information from the sense
organs toward the brain.

Question 3

Efferent neurons

Answer 3

Motor neurons that convey impulses away from the brain.

Question 4

Interneurons

Answer 4

Neurons that connect sensory neurons to motor neurons;
association neurons.

Question 5

Primary afferents

Answer 5

Sensory neurons that convey impulses from the skin to the spinal cord.

Question 6

Nociception

Answer 6

The process wherein sensory nerve cells are stimulated in
response to harmful stimuli resulting in the perception of pain.

Question 7

Nociceptors

Answer 7

Sensory receptors in the skin and organs that are capable
of responding to various types of stimulation that may cause tissue damage.

Question 8

Myelin

Answer 8

A fatty substance that acts as insulation for neurons.

Question 9

C fibers

Answer 9

Small-diameter nerve fibers that provide information concerning slow, diffuse, lingering pain.

Question 10

A-beta fibers

Answer 10

Large sensory fibers involved in rapidly transmitting sensation and possibly in inhibiting the transmission of pain.

Question 11

A-delta fibers

Answer 11

Small sensory fibers that are involved in the experience of “fast” pain.

Question 12

Dorsal horns

Answer 12

The part of the spinal cord away from the stomach that
receives sensory input and that may play an important role in the perception of pain.

Question 13

Laminae

Answer 13

Layers of cell bodies.

Question 14

Substantial gelatinosa

Answer 14

Two layers of the dorsal horns of the spinal cord.

Question 15

Thalamus

Answer 15

Structure in the forebrain that acts as a relay center for incoming sensory information and outgoing motor information.

Question 16

Somatosensory cortex

Answer 16

The part of the brain that receives and processes
sensory input from the body.

Question 17

Referred pain

Answer 17

Pain perceived at a place that is different from the place of the stimulus. Visceral pain is often referred to sites on the skin.

Question 18

Endorphins

Answer 18

Naturally occurring neurochemicals whose effects resemble those of the opiates.

Question 19

Periaqueductal gray

Answer 19

An area of the midbrain that, when stimulated,
decreases pain.

Question 20

Medulla

Answer 20

The structure of the hindbrain just above the spinal cord.

Question 21

Acute pain

Answer 21

Short-term pain that results from tissue damage or other trauma.

Question 22

Chronic pain

Answer 22

Pain that endures beyond the time of normal healing; frequently experienced in the absence of detectable tissue damage.

Question 23

Pre-chronic pain

Answer 23

Pain that endures beyond the acute phase but has not yet become chronic.

Question 24

Chronic recurrent pain

Answer 24

Alternating episodes of intense pain and no pain.

Question 25

Gate control theory

Answer 25

A theory of pain holding that structures in the spinal cord act as a gate for sensory input that is interpreted as pain.

Question 26

Central control trigger

Answer 26

A nerve impulse that descends from the brain and influences the perception of pain.

Question 27

Syndrome

Answer 27

A cluster of symptoms that characterize a particular condition.

Question 28

Migraine headache

Answer 28

Recurrent headaches originally believed to be caused by constriction and dilation of the vascular arteries but now accepted as involving neurons in the brain stem

Question 29

Tension headaches

Answer 29

Pain produced by sustained muscle contractions in the neck, shoulders, scalp, and face, as well as by activity in the central nervous system.

Question 30

Cluster headache

Answer 30

A type of severe headache that occurs in daily clusters for 4 to 16 weeks. Symptoms are similar to migraine, but duration is much briefer.

Question 31

Rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 31

An autoimmune disorder characterized by a dull ache within or around a joint.

Question 32

Osteoarthritis

Answer 32

Progressive inflammation of the joints.

Question 33

Fibromyalgia

Answer 33

A chronic pain condition characterized by tender points
throughout the body; this condition produces symptoms of fatigue, headache, cognitive difficulties, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

Question 34

Phantom limb pain

Answer 34

The experience of chronic pain in an absent body part.

Question 35

Analgesic drugs

Answer 35

Drugs that decrease the perception of pain.

Question 36

Opiate painkillers

Answer 36

Substances such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone that help relieve pain.

Question 37

Tolerance

Answer 37

The need for increasing levels of a drug in order to produce a
constant level of effect.

Question 38

Dependence

Answer 38

A condition in which a drug becomes incorporated into the functioning of the body’s cells so that it is needed for “normal” functioning.

Question 39

Nonnarcotic analgesics

Answer 39

Drugs that help in relieving pain without
causing loss of consciousness and comprises of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen.

Question 40

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Answer 40

Treatment for pain involving electrical stimulation of neurons from the surface of the skin.

Question 41

Behavior modification

Answer 41

Shaping behavior by manipulating reinforcement in order to obtain a desired behavior.

Question 42

Positive reinforcers

Answer 42

Positively valued stimuli that, when added to a situation, strengthens the behavior it follows.

Question 43

Cognitive therapy

Answer 43

A type of therapy that aims to change attitudes and
beliefs, assuming that behavior change will follow.

Question 44

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer 44

A type of therapy that aims to develop beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and skills to make positive changes in behavior.

Question 45

Acceptance and commitment therapy

Answer 45

A type of therapy that teaches people to notice and accept unwanted thoughts and feelings, while also committing to valued goals and activities.

Question 46

Mindfulness

Answer 46

Quality of awareness that is brought about by focusing on the present moment and accepting the thoughts in a nonjudgmental manner.

Question 47

How does the nervous system register pain?

Answer 47

Receptors near the skin’s surface react to stimula- tion, and the nerve impulses from this stimulation relay the message to the spinal cord. The spinal cord includes laminae (layers) that modulate the sensory message and relay it toward the brain. The somatosensory cortex in the brain receives and interprets sensory input. Neurochemicals and the periaqueductal gray can also modulate the information and change the perception of pain.

Question 48

What is the meaning of pain?

Answer 48

it can be classified as acute (resulting from specific injury and lasting less than 6 months), chronic (continuing beyond the time of healing), or prechronic (the critical stage between acute and chronic). The leading model is the gate control theory of pain, which takes both physical and psychological factors into account in the experience of pain.

Question 49

What types of pain present the biggest problems?

Answer 49

Pain syndromes are a common way of classifying chronic pain according to symptoms. These syndromes include headache pain, low back pain, arthritic pain, cancer pain, and phantom limb pain; the first two are the most common sources of chronic pain and lead to the most time lost from work or school

Question 50

How can pain be measured?

Answer 50

Pain can be measured physiologically by assessing muscle tension or autonomic arousal, but these measurements do not have high validity. Observations of pain-related behaviors (such as limping, grimacing, or complaining) have some reliability and validity. Self-reports are the most common approach to pain measurement; they include rating scales, pain questionnaires, and standardized psychological tests.

Question 51

What techniques are effective for pain management?

Answer 51

Relaxation training can help people cope with pain problems such as headache and low back pain. Behavioral approaches include behavior modification, which guides people to behave in ways compatible with health rather than pain. Cognitive therapy concentrates on thoughts, guiding pain patients to minimize catastrophizing and fear. Cognitive behavioral therapy combines strategies to change cognitions with behavioral application, which is an especially effective approach for pain control.