Pain Physiology

Question 1

define pain

Answer 1

an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience

Question 2

four processes in pain

Answer 2

1. transduction
2. transmission
3. modulation
4. perception

Question 3

describe transduction in pain

Answer 3

translation of noxious stimuli into electrical activity at nociceptor (A-delta and C fibres)

Question 4

describe transmission of pain

Answer 4

propagation of pain signal as nerve impulses

Question 5

describe modulation of pain

Answer 5

modification of pain experience e.g. by opiates

Question 6

describe perception of pain

Answer 6

experience/behaviours

Question 7

three types of pain

Answer 7

1. nociceptive
2. inflammatory
3. pathological

Question 8

role of nociceptive pain

Answer 8

function to protect and avoid harmful stimuli

Question 9

role of inflammatory pain

Answer 9

activation of immune system to discourage contact and aid repair

Question 10

two types of pathological pain

Answer 10

1. neuropathic

2. dysfunctional

Question 11

neuropathic pain

Answer 11

damage to neural tissue

Question 12

dysfunctional pain

Answer 12

pain with no identifiable cause e.g. IBS

Question 13

define referred pain

Answer 13

pain felt distant from the site of origin

Question 14

what causes referred pain

Answer 14

convergence of visceral and skin afferents upon the same spinothalamic neuron