L20 - Abdominal pain Flashcards
What are the two innervations of the abdominal pain pathways?
- Somatic
2. Visceral
Describe the pain pathway from abdominal organs
Visceral - sympathetics
- Pain fibres pass through the sympathetic paravertebral ganglia without synapsing
- Cell bodies are in the dorsal root ganglia
- Neuron decussates at this level and then ascends in the lateral spinothalamic tract and on to the thalamus
Describe the pain pathway from pelvic organs
Visceral - parasympathetics
Describe the pain pathway from abdominal wall
Somatic - via the peripheral cutaneous nerves
Pain neurones are:
1. Adelta - initial sharp pain (myelinated fibres; pain sensation travels fast)
2. C - longer diffuse pain (non-myelinated fibres; pain sensation travels slow)
Describe the location/ character/ stimuli of visceral pain
Location: - Diffuse Chara: - Dull/ ache - Colicky Stimuli: - Distension - Traction (mesentery) - Ischaemia
Describe the location/ character/ stimuli of somatic pain
Location: - Localised Chara: - Sharp - Constant Stimuli: - Pressure - Incision - Thermal
Which mechanism of pain is most common?
Pain fibres travelling with autonomic nerves more common than somatic nerves
Which mechanism of pain causes diffuse pain?
Pain fibres travelling with autonomic nerves
Which mechanisms of pain causes well localised pain?
Pain fibres travelling with somatic nerves
Describe the referred pain experienced in myocardial infarctions
Pain felt in neck, chest, shoulder and arm
Explain the referred pain experienced in myocardial infarctions
- Pain fibres (general visceral afferents) from the heart travel with the sympathetic supply to the heart and converge upon spinal segments T1-T4
- T1-4 dermatomes include neck, upper chest and inner arm
- Thus, the CNS interprets this pain as originating from T1-4 dermatome region
What are some examples of where pain is felt from where the organ originated?
- Testicles
- Liver
- Diverticulitis
What is the cause of a poor localisation of pain in visceral fibres?
Visceral pain fibres spread over several spinal segments
Where is all gut pain felt on the body? +Examples?
ALL GUT pain felt anteriorly
- All gut structures from lower oesophagus to upper anus
- Including spleen, liver, gallbladder and pancreas
Where is pain felt for retroperitoneal structures? +Examples?
If retroperitoneal, pain felt in the back
- Pain fibres in retroperitoneum
- Pancreas
- 2nd-4th parts of duodenum
- Lower part of rectum
- Aorta
- Kidneys
- Ureters `
Where is pain felt for pain fibres travelling with parasympathetic structures? +Examples?
Felt in the back Thoracic = Oesophagus Pelvis = Uterus = Ovaries = Fallopian tubes
Where is bowel pain felt and why?
- Bowel was a midline structure
- Pain felt anteriorly in the midline at the spinal level the organ developed form
What is the pain like when it is due to obstruction or increased activity of bowel
Pain due to obstruction of increased activity of bowel is colicky in nature due to spasm of smooth muscle