Pain. Definitions. Flashcards
What is allodynia?
When a stimulus that shouldn’t cause pain generates a pain response.
What is an adrenergic neuron?
Any neuron that leads to the release of norepinephrine/adrenaline.
What are afferent neurons?
Neurons that take information from sensory cells in the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.
What are afferent neurons also known as?
As sensory neurons.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
The part of the nervous system that is responsible for involuntary actions such as breathing or heartbeats.
What is ataxia?
Uncoordinated movements.
What is an axon?
The long processes that branch off the nerve cell body and take information towards the CNS or to other neurons.
What are efferent neurons?
Neurons that take information from the central nervous system to effector cells in the peripheral nervous system.
What are efferent neurons also known as?
As motor neurons.
What is the nerve cell body?
The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus.
What is the central nervous system?
The nervous system within the brain and spinal cord.
What is a cholinergic neuron?
Any neuron that leads to the release of acetylcholine.
What is circumduction?
When an animal moves limbs in a circular motion.
What is a contralateral stimulus?
When a stimulus is generated on one side of the body, but is transmitted on the other side of the body.
What is a cortical map?
A map that shows and divides the different areas of the cortex into the stimuli they respond to.
What is the decussation of neurons?
When neurons cross from one side of the spinal cord to the other.
What is delayed protraction?
When an animal cannot move its limb.
What is a dendrite?
The long processes that branch off the nerve cell body and receive information from other nerve cells.
What is an electrical gradient?
A difference in electrical potential (charge) across a membrane.
What is endplate synapsis?
Synapsis into skeletal muscle.
What is a ganglion?
Areas where synapsis takes place.
What is a gated ion channel?
An ion channel that is closed until it receives a certain stimulus.
What is hypermetria?
When an animal takes abnormally high steps.
What is hypometria?
When an animal takes abnormally low steps or drags its feet.
What are interneurons?
The neurons involved in decision making.
How do interneurons work?
They take information from afferent neurons and will send information to efferent neurons.
What are interneurons also known as?
As association neurons.
What is an ipsilateral stimulus?
When a stimulus from one side of the body is transmitted up the same side of the spinal cord.
What is a leaky channel?
An ion channel within the cell membrane that is always open.
What are ligand gated channels?
Gated ion channels that only open when a ligand binds to a receptor on the protein.
What is the limbic system?
Interconnected tissues in the forebrain that connects to the cortex and the hypothalamus.
What information is received by the limbic system?
Sensory information.
What are mechanically gated ion channels?
Ion channels that open following stimuli such as pressure or distension of the cell membrane.
What is a myelinated axon?
An axon that has been coated with myelin.
What is a myostatic reflex?
When the ascending and descending information for the reflex is carried by the same nerve.
What is the nervous system?
The system in the body that governs actions and/or reactions.
What does the nervous system allow us to do?
To interact with our internal and external environments.
What is neuromodulation?
When a stimulus binding to a neuron leads to physical changes within the neuron.
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell.
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical substance that is released from a nerve cell and travels to another cell to stimulate a response.
What stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter?
A nerve impulse.
What are nociceptors?
Pain receptors.
What is nociduction?
The conduction of pain stimuli around the body.
What is pain?
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.
What is resting membrane potential?
The usual membrane potential between a cells interior and the extracellular environment.
What voltage is a cells usual resting membrane potential?
-70mV compared to the extracellular environment.
What is sensory ataxia?
When an animal has an uncoordinated gate and/or postural responses without a loss of muscle strength.
What is a sensory field?
The small area that is innervated by a neuron.
What is the somatosensory cortex?
The part of the cortex that deals with touch, pain and other sensations of the skin.
What is spatial summation?
When more than one synapse arrives at the postsynaptic cell and pushes it to threshold.
What is a synapse?
When a nerve impulse is transmitted between 2 neurons.
What is temporal summation?
When a series of action potentials from one synapse arrives at a postsynaptic cell, pushing it to threshold in a series of steps.
What is a voltage gated ion channel?
A gated ion channel that will open when its environment reaches a certain voltage.
At what voltage will a voltage gated ion channel open?
Usually around -35 to -40 mV.
