Local Anaesthetics Flashcards
How are the different effects of cocaine produced?
Local anaesthetic- blocking sodium channels
Psychotropic- blockage of monoamine reuptake
What was the first pure local anaesthetic with no psychotropic effects called?
Amylocaine
Describe the features of type A alpha spinal nerve fibres.
Heavily myelinated
12-20um in diameter
Proprioception motor function
Describe the features of type A beta spinal nerve fibres.
Heavily myelinated
5-12um in diameter
Touch and pressure response function
Describe the features of type A gamma spinal nerve fibres.
Heavily myelinated
3-6um diameter
Muscle spindle function
Describe the features of type A delta spinal nerve fibres.
Heavily myelinated
2-5um diameter
Pain and temperature response function
Describe the features of type B spinal nerve fibres.
Light myelination
<3um diameter
Pre-ganglionic ANS function
Describe the features of type C sensory spinal nerve fibres.
Not myelinated
0.3-1.2um diameter
Pain response function
Describe the features of type C sympathetic spinal nerve fibres.
Not myelinated
0.2-1.3um diameter
Post-ganglionic function
What are polymodal spinal nerve fibres?
Able to respond to more than one type of stimulus
What is the major structural difference between motor and sensory neurones in the spinal cord?
Motor neurones enter the spinal column via ventral roots
Sensory neurones enter the spinal column via dorsal routes
Briefly describe the structure of dorsal route ganglion sensory neurones.
Cell bodies have a single axon that splits
One branch goes to periphery, other into the spinal cord
Briefly describe the structure of nociceptors.
Peripheral axon terminal is a bare nerve ending possessing receptors for noxious stimuli
May also be stimulated by protons and ATP released by damaged tissue
Describe the action of chilli peppers on nociceptors in the mouth.
Contain capsaicin which activates VR1 receptors
Normal function of these is to respond to high temperatures
Not water soluble therefore water does not cool mouth after spicy
What is the mechanism of action local anaesthetics?
Block sodium channels to prevent formation of action potentials and blocking nociception
Describe the structure of voltage gated sodium channels.
Alpha subunit is a long chain with 24 membrane spanning domains
Divided into 4 blocks of 6 transmembrane domains
Each pseudosubunit forms a structure with a charged 4th TM domain and membrane dipping domain