Pain Pathophysiology Flashcards
What type of pain includes post-operative pain, mechanical lower back pain, and arthritis?
Nociceptive pain
Name a few conditions categorized as neuropathic pain.
Post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, CRPSII
What does the biomedical model state about pain?
Pain reflects underlying disease or tissue damage
Where is the ‘gate’ located in the gate control theory of pain?
Dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Which fibers transmit non-painful stimuli like touch?
A-beta fibers
What closes the ‘gate’ in the gate control theory?
Activation of large-diameter fibers by non-painful stimuli
What neurotransmitters are involved in the brain’s descending pain pathway?
Serotonin and endorphins
How does rubbing a bruised area help reduce pain?
Activates large fibers, closing the ‘gate’
What is an interoceptive sensation related to pain?
Protection of injured tissues
What is physiological pain initiated by?
Nociceptors responding to noxious stimuli
Define neuronal plasticity.
The brain’s ability to change structure/function in response to stimuli
What happens to neurons detecting pain during chronic pain?
They display plasticity, altering function and structure
What causes nociceptive pain?
Ongoing activation of the nervous system by tissue injury
How does somatic pain differ from visceral pain?
Somatic pain arises from MSK tissues, visceral from internal organs
What is transduction in nociception?
Detection of noxious stimuli by nociceptors
What is the role of modulation in pain perception?
Suppressing or facilitating second-order neuron responses
What is peripheral sensitization?
Increased responsiveness of nociceptors to stimuli
What is central sensitization?
Enhanced response of CNS nociceptive neurons to input
Define hyperalgesia.
Exaggerated response to painful stimuli
Define allodynia.
Pain from non-painful stimuli
What fibers are involved in fast pain transmission?
A-delta fibers
What fibers are responsible for slow pain?
C fibers
Name one condition that exemplifies central sensitization.
Allodynia
What is the conduction phase in nociception?
Sensory input traveling from peripheral terminals to the spinal cord
How does aging impair pain sensation?
Decline in fast pain fiber function
What causes expansion of the receptive field in chronic pain?
Central sensitization
What neurochemical process can lead to chronic pain?
Persistent neuronal plasticity
How does TENS reduce pain?
Stimulates large fibers to block pain signals
What increases conduction velocity in peripheral nerve fibers?
Myelination
What is the primary function of nociceptors?
Detect noxious or damaging stimuli
