somatosensory function

Question 1

central (descending) inhibition: what does cerebral activity trigger, and where does the effect occur

Answer 1

descending pathway in the brainstem which inhibits the nociceptive pathway in the dorsal horn

Question 2

central (descending) inhibition: what does the descending pathway use to achieve inhibition

Answer 2

endogenous opioids and other transmitters (monoamines like serotonin and noradrenaline)

Question 3

peripheral inhibition: where does this take place

Answer 3

in superficial levels of dorsal horn (substantia gelatinosa)

Question 4

peripheral inhibition: gate theory

Answer 4

stimulation through non-nociceptive inputs inhibits projection of nociceptive stimulus to spinothalamic tract (inhibition of primary afferent inputs before transmission to brain through ascending pathways by inhibitory interneurone overriding pain signals to projection neurone)

Question 5

major section involved in descending control pathways

Answer 5

periaqueductal grey

Question 6

where does facilitation and inhibition of nociceptive processing occur

Answer 6

in dorsal horn