physiology of pain Flashcards
(25 cards)
define pain
unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual tissue damage or described as
processes in the physiology of pain
transduction
transmission
modulation
perception
transduction
translation of noxious stimulus into electrical activtiy at the peripheral nociceptor
transmission
propagation of pain signal as nerve impulses through the nervous system
modulation
modification/ hindering of pain transmisison in the nervous system
perception
conscious experience of pain causing physiological and behaviorual responses
how does pain begin
activation of nociceptors
how are nociceptors acitvated
by intense noxious stimuli
what are first order neurones
nociceptors which relay info to second order neurones in the CNS
how to nociceptors relay info
by chemical synaptic transmission
route of second order neurones
ascend the spinal cord in the anterolateral system
where do second order neurones terminbat
thalamus
subtypes of nociceptors
a and c fibres
a fibres
mechanical/ thermal nociceptors
thinly myelinated
mediate first or fast pain
c fibres
unmyelinated
respond to all noxious stimuli
mediate second/ slow pain
which fibre for stabbing, pricking sensation
a fibres
which fibre for burning, throbbing, cramping, aching sensations
c fibres
somatic pain
superficial- skin/ muscle or deep joints
which type of pain sensation is somatic
throbbing or aching
visceral pain
internal organs
less localised
is nociceptive pain adaptive
yes
is pathological pain adaptive
no, maladaptive
maladaptive pain meaning
doesnt get better when tissue is fixed
so the pain is the problem not the damage
adaptive pain meaning
helpful pain which promotes healing
