Physiology of Pain Flashcards
Dr S Khogali
name the 4 processes in the process of pain
transduction
transmission
modulation
perception
what is transduction?
translation of noxious stimulus into electrical activity at the peripheral nociceptor
what is transmission?
propagation of pain signal as nerve impulses through the nervous system
what is modulation?
modification/hindering of pain transmission in the nervous system e.g. by inhibitory neurotransmitters like endogenous opioids
what is perception?
Conscious experience of pain. Causes physiological and behavioural responses
what are nociceptors?
specific primary sensory afferent neurones normally activated by intense noxious stimuli
what do nociceptors relay information to?
second order neurones
what do second order neurones ascend the spinal cord in?
anterolateral system
what is the anterolateral system comprised of?
spinothalmic tract and spinoreticular tract
Adelta-fibres respond to what stimuli?
mechanical and thermal stimuli
are Adelta-fibres myelinated?
yes - thinly - allowing fast conduction
pain is laminating, stabbing etc.
what do C-fibres respond to?
noxious stimuli - polymodal (all)
pain is burning, throbbing, cramping etc.
are C-fibres myelinated?
no - unmyelinated - slow conduction
name the 3 classifications of pain
nociceptive, inflammatory and pathological
what does nociceptive pain represent?
normal response to injury of tissues by noxious (damaging) stimuli
nociceptive pain is only provoked by intense stimulation
true or false?
true
in inflammatory pain, what is activated?
the immune system
what does inflammatory pain heighten?
pain sensitivity to noxious stimuli (hyperalgesia) and pain sensitivity (allodynia)
name the 2 types of pathological pain
neuropathic and dysfunctional
what is neuropathic pain caused by?
damage to neural tissue
give an expanse of neuropathic pain
compression of nerves
what I neuropathic pain perceived as? (sensation)
burning
shooting
numbness
pins and needles
what is there no sign of in dysfunctional pain?
identifiable damage or inflammation
give examples of dysfunctional pain.
fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headache, temporomandibular joint disease, interstitial cystitis
what is referred pain caused by?
convergence of nociceptive visceral and skin afferents upon the same spinothalamic neurons at the same spinal level
where is heart pain felt?
left arm and cheek
where is gallbladder and liver pain felt?
right shoulder - liver more medial spanning up neck to mandible
where is diaphragm/lung pain also felt?
left shoulder
where is appendix pain felt?
central abdomen
what do you call a man with a one inch penis?
Blair Smith
