Physiology of Pain Flashcards
pain system components
nociceptors
ascending nociceptive tract
higher centers in cns
descending pathways
excitatory transmitters
AA: glutamate, aspartate
neuropeptides: substance p, cgrp
gfs: bdnf
peptides: bradykinin
inhibitory neuropeptides
endogenous opioids (aa): enkephalin, b-endorphin
neuropeptides: gaba
gfs: glycine
a high threshold sensory receptor of the peripheral somatosensory nervous system that is capable of transducing and encoding noxious stimuli
nociceptors
t/f in nociception, pain is always implied
false, pain sensation is not necessarily implied
what are a-delta fibers
thinly myelinated faster conduction (2-30 m/sec) innervate mechano and thermoreceptors more accurate pain localization terminate laterally in lamina 1 and 5
what are c fibers
unmyelinated conduct at <2-30 m/sec innervate mechano, thermo, and sympathetic postganglionic receptors long lasting burning pain located in lamina 2
interpret and relay sensory information from the body to the brain
dorsal horn arrangement
most nociceptive inputs in the dorsal horn arrangement
I (marginal zone)
II (substantia gelatinosa)
V
neural impulses from free nerve endings of nociception are transmitted via ____ to ____ to _____
via primary afferent nerves to spinal cord/cranial nerves to the brain stem
pathway of the spinothalamic tract
dorsal horn -> cross midline in vertebral white commisure of sc -> ascend in opposite anterolateral quadrant / some ipsilateral -> project to the thalamus
arise from laminae I, II, V and synapse with fibers that project to the somatosensory cortex
lateral thalamus
from deeper laminae VI, XI to reticular formation of brainstem and midbrain to the periaqueductal gray matter and hypothalamus or directly to areas of forebrain and somatosensory cortex
medial thalamus
aspects of pain lateral thalamus vs medial thalamus
lateral: sensory and DISCRIMINATIE
medial: AFFECTIVE, autonomic reflex responses, state-of-arousal, ad emotional aspects of pain
functions of spinohypothalamic tract
coordinates pain and autonomic functions: sleep, appetite, temperature regulation, stress response