Lecture 10: Pain

Question 1

What is the function of nociception

Answer 1

Enables early detection of noxious stimuli, prevents tissue damage

Question 2

What causes a congenital insensitivity to pain?

Answer 2

SCN9A gene mutation that encodes Sodium channel Na_v1.7

Question 3

What are the different types of nociceptors?

Answer 3

All nociceptors are free nerve endings. They can be modality specific or multimodal. A-delta fibres tend to be modality specific, whilst C fibres tend to be multimodal