Pain Control - part 1 Flashcards
What are the 3 types of pain
nocioceptive
neuropathic
psychogenic
What is nocioceptive pain
produced by an injury
stabbing, localized in bone, muscle
can also be in viscera
what is neuropathic pain
indicates nerve involvement
burning, tingling sensation
what is psychogenic pain
pain originating or in relationship to a psychological diagnosis
what are the two primary mechanisms involved with pain production
nocioceptive afferent neurons
abnormal central control over afferent input
what makes up nocioceptive afferent neurons
unmyelinated C fibers (dull, burning, diffuse pain)
finely myelinated A delta fibers (sharp, intense, well-localized discomfort)
Describe the pain pathway
neurons in the periaqueductal gray matter send signals to the nucleus raphe magnus to silence the 2nd order neuron which travels down to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord where it inhibits signals between the 1st and 2nd order neurons
Ascending neurons follow what tract in the pain pathway?
spinothalamic tract
what is the main job of the descending tract?
to control and inhibit the ascending tract
in the pain pathway, the thalamus is what?
the relay station
always the opposite side of the brain as the injury
where is the periaqueductal gray matter located?
the midbrain
where is the nucleus raphe magnus located?
the medulla
where is the substatia gelatinosa located?
in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
enkephalins (opioids) inhibit what part of the pain pathway?
the ascending pathway at the substantia gelatinosa
what is substance P
a neuropeptide
