PHYSIOLOGY - pain and thermosensation Flashcards
via which tract does pain and thermosensation reach the brain
spinothalamic tract
what is a nociceptor
specific receptors that pick up thermal, chemical or mechanical stimuli
are A(delta) fibres or C fibres faster
why
A(delta) fibres
C fibres arent myelinated
what is the gate control theory of pain and how does this influence drug mechanisms
you need a noxious substance to open gate = pain
so if you have a non-noxious substance (ie a drug) = close gate = no pain
is nociceptive pain low or high threshold
high
what is allodynia
example
what type of pain signal does it cause
why is this good
when a stimuli that doesnt normally cause pain, causes pain
eg brush of skin = pain
= inflammatory pain
if youve have a cut, then you dont want anything to touch it to allow it to heal properly (discourages movement of that area)
what treats inflammatory pain
NSAIDs
what are the 2 types of pathological pain
neuropathic pain
dysfunctional pain
what is the problem in neuropathic pain
pain in response to nerve damage - no protective function
what is the general problem in pathological pain
there is pain, but for no biologic/protective function
what is the problem in dysfunctional pain
no reason, spontaneous pain, ,no protective function
what are the 3 stimuli of nociceptive pain
chemical
mechanical
thermal
