Pain Flashcards
Which tract is responsible for sensation of pain and temperature?
Lateral spinothalamic
What is the definition of pain?
Unpleasant sensory/emotional experience with associated actual tissue damage
What is the pathway of afferent pain transmission?
1) Nociceptors, A delta and C fibres detect stimulus/pain
2) Synapse with 2ndary afferent neurones in dorsal horn of Grey Matter
3) Substance P released and interaction of neurones/interneurons determine activity of secondary neurones
4) Signal carried via spinothalamic tract to thalamus
5) 3rd order neurones ascend to SS cortex
Where is the insula found and what is its role in pain recognition?
1) Deep in lateral sulcus
2) Subjective perception of pain
What is the role of the cingulate gyrus in pain recognition?
Emotional response to pain
What are 4 treatments for pain?
1) Analgesic
2) Acupuncture
3) Exercise
4) Hypnotherapy
What are the 4 main features of pain?
1) Pain is subjective
2) Sensational
3) Unpleasant
4) Emotional Experience
What are the 2 main types of pain?
1) Nociceptive: Pain derived from actual damage to non-neural tissue
2) Neuropathic: Primary lesion or dysfunction of nervous system causing pain
What are Nociceptors?
Sensory neurons in any area of body that can internally/externally sense pain
Outline the pain pathway?
1) Nociceptors detect pain and travels through afferent nerve fibre
2) Travel through dorsal ganglion and synapses in dorsal horn
3) Travels up spinothalamic tract and synapses in thalamus
What type of pain are C fibres responsible for?
C fibres respond to high intensity stimuli
Slow, spread-out and deep pain “second pain”
What type of pain are a-delta fibres responsible for?
Sensation of quick, sharp, localised pain “first pain” (Larger than C fibres, thinly myelinated and high activation threshold)
What is the difference between Acute and Chronic Pain?
Acute pain appears for less than 12 weeks and short term
How do the 2 sexes differ in response to pain?
Women report pain more readily but also can take more of it
What are the signs of Brown-Sequard Syndrome?
Hemi-Section of the SC
1) Ipsilateral weakness and loss of motor function below lesion
2) Ipsilateral loss of: proprioception, 2-point discrimination and fine touch
3) Contralateral loss of pain and temperature (2 segments below lesion)
