Pain Pathway and Opioids Flashcards
What fibers are responsible for the transmission of “first pain” or “fast pain”?
A-delta; free (naked) nerve endings, myelinated, diameter 1-4, well-localized discriminative sensation (sharp, stinging, pricking), duration of pain coincides with during of painful stimulus
What fibers are responsible for “second pain” or “slow pain”?
C fibers; free (naked) nerve endings, unmyelinated, diameter 0.4-1.2, diffuse and persistent burning, aching, throbbing–> duration of pain exceeds duration of stimulus
What are the fibers involved in peripheral pain stimulus and the path to the spinal cord?
fast and slow pathways are activated in the periphery when free nerve endings of a-delta and c fiber are stimulated (DAMAGED); cell bodies of a-delta and c fiber afferents are located in the dorsal root ganglion–> A-delta and c fibers enter the dorsal cord, divide and ascend OR descend 1-3 segments in the tract of Lissauer
After leaving the tract of Lissauer, what is the transmission pathway for fast-sharp pain?
after leaving the tract of Lissauer, the axons of the a-delta fibers enter the dorsal horn and terminate in Rexed’s lamina I and lamina V–> second order neurons leaving lamina I or lamina V cross the contralateral spinothalamic tract and ascend to the brain
After leaving the tract of Lissauer, what is the transmission pathway for slow-chronic pain?
The C-fibers terminate primarily in lamina II and also lamina III–> interneurons transmit C-fiber impulses to lamina V from lamina II and III–> neurons leaving lamina V cross immediately to the contralateral lateral spinothalamic tract and ascend to the brain
What lamina is referred to as the substantia gelatinosa?
definitely lamina II, however some sources say it is II and III
What is the major neurotransmitter released from A-Delta fibers and where does it bind?
glutamate, which binds to AMPA receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
What is the major neurotransmitter released from C fibers and where does it bind?
substance P, which binds to the NK-1 receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
What is a descending tract that modulates pain?
dorsolateral fasciculus
What sensations are blocked in the lateral columns by epidural or spinal anesthesia?
bilateral loss of PAIN and TEMP
All sensory input except smell passes through the _____.
thalamus
What dermatome is around the level of the clavicle?
C4
What dermatome is around the level of the nipples?
T4
What dermatome is around the level of the umbilicus?
T10
What dermatome is around the level of the tibia?
L4-L5
What dermatome is around the level of the perineum?
S2-S5