Pain SUPP Flashcards
What is pain caused by
A noxious stimulus
What are pain receptors known as?
Nociceptors
What do nociceptors respond to?
Thermal,chemical, and mechanical stimuli
Physiological mechanisms involved in pain sensation are called nociception, nnociception is divided into 4 stages. What are the 4 stages?
- Transduction
- Transmission
- Perception
- Modulation
Transduction
The conversion of the painful stimuli to neuronal action potentials at sensory receptors
Transmission
Movement of action potentials along neurons from peripheral receptor to spinal cord and then to the brain
Perception
The brain receives the pain signals and interprets them as painful
Modulation
Alteration of synaptic transmission of pain signals
What are the 2 types of fibers involved in pain transmission
A-delta and C fibers
A-delta fibers
They are larger and conduct impulses at a fast rapid rate.
They are responsible for acute and sharp pain
They are sensitive to thermal and mechanical stimuli
C fibers
They are smaller and conduct impulses at a slower rate
They are responsible for chronic pain
Pain gates are open by C fiber stimulation
What chemotactic substances also stimulate nociceptors?
Prostaglandins, bradykinins, and histamines
Each spinal nerve contains the pain fibres for a particular area of the body surface, these are called?
Dermatomes
Neurological pain usually follows Dermatomal distribution patterns, these patters are called
Radiculopathy
The brain has the power to control the intensity of pain signals. The system for this is located in certain areas of the nervous system, where are these areas?
The spinal cord and pons
Which neurotransmitters are used to control the intensity of pain
Serotonin, which acts on neurons to secrete enkephalins which inhibit the release of substance P
What is the Endogenous pain control system
Brain has power to control intensity of pain signals
What do the transmitters do in endogenous pain control
Enkenphalins inhibit the release of substance P
Serotonin acts on neurons that secrete encephalin
What is pain tolerance
Variable period of time of pain endurance before a pain response is initiated
Varies in individual
Influenced by factors like genes, race, culture
What is pain threshold
The point at which the noxious stimulus is percieved as pain
Acute pain will be more accurately felt compared to chronic pain
Cutaneous pain
Direct and acute from the skin
Different pain in each layer
Visceral pain
Diffused and poorly located
Some is referred in nature
Referred pain
Pain that is localized away from the original site
Reflex muscle spasms
Headache pain
Pain results from internal and external stimuli
