Somatosensory Flashcards
Aesthesia
Ability to feel or perceive sensations
Hypoesthenia
Sensation in response to stimulation of sensory nerves of targets they innervate
Hyperesthesia
Increased sensitivity to sensation (especially touch)
Paresthesia
Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)
Anesthesia
Loss of sensation
Hemianesthesia
Loss of sense on one side of body
Algesia
Sensitivity to pain
Hyperalgesia
Increased sensitivity to pain
Hypoalgesia
Decreased sensitivity to pain
Anaglesia
Absence of sense of pain
Allodynia
Painful response to stimuli not normally associated with pain
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Chronic pain that can affect any area of body (typically limb)
- Develops after injury
- Pain is out of proportion to injury
Symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Hyperalgesia, Allodyna, skin temperature changes, skin color, edema
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain
Gene mutation
Prevents the sensitivity of pain because of prevention of AP’s due to impact of Na+ channels
Phantom Limb Pain
Feeling of pain in absence of limb
Due to dysfunctional reorganization of cortex
Peripheral Sensitization
Receptors are more sensitive and more responsive to noxious stimulation ni receptive field
Primary Hyperalgesia
Exaggerated response to painful stimuli in region of damaged skin
Secondary Hyperalgesia
Exaggerated response to painful stimuli in skin immediately bordering damaged tissue
Central Sensitization
Changes in central processing of sensory information by posterior horn cells and higher brain centers
- heightened state of responsiveness
How?
- Increase in size of receptive field - large area that can be stimulated
- Decreased threshold for stimulation activation
- Easier to reach threshold stimuli
