Unit 5 Pharmacology: Local Anesthetics Flashcards
(216 cards)
Define conduction velocity
How fast an axon transmits the action potential
What 2 things increase conduction velocity?
Myelination
Larger fiber diameter
What is saltatory conduction?
Myelinated axons allow the electrical current to skip along only the uninsulated regions (the nodes of Ranvier)
What are the 3 major classes of peripheral nerves?
A
B
C
How many types of A fibers are there? What are they?
(4) Alpha Beta Gamma Delta
A alpha fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: heavy Function: skeletal muscle - motor, proprioception Diameter: 12 - 20 um Velocity: +++++ Block onset: Fourth
A beta fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: Heavy Function: Touch, pressure Diameter: 5 - 12 um Velocity: ++++ Block onset: Fourth
A gamma fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: medium Function: skeletal muscle - tone Diameter: 3 - 6 um Velocity: +++ Block onset: Third
A delta fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: Medium Function: Fast pain, temperature, touch Diameter: 2 - 5 um Velocity: +++ Block onset: Third
How many types of B fibers are there? What are they?
Just 1
B fibers
B fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: light Function: preganglionic ANS fibers Diameter: 3 um Velocity: ++ Block onset: First
How many types of C fibers are there? What are they?
(2)
Sympathetic
Dorsal root
C sympathetic fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: none Function: postganglionic ANS fibers Diameter: 0.3 - 1.3 um Velocity: + Block onset: second
C dorsal root fibers: Myelination Function Diameter Velocity Block onset
Myelination: none Function: slow pain, temperature, touch Diameter: 0.4 - 1.2 um Velocity: + Block onset: second
What is differential blockade?
?
What is minimum effective concentration (Cm)?
A unit of measure that quantifies the concentration of local anesthetic that is required to block conduction. It is analogous of ED50 and MAC
A lower Cm means what? Vs a higher Cm?
Fibers that are more easily blocked have a lower Cm.
Fibers that are more resistant to local anesthetic blockade have a higher Cm.
What size nerves typically have a higher Cm?
Nerves with a wider diameter
How does tissue pH affect Cm?
Cm is reduced by higher tissue pH
How does nerve stimulation affect Cm?
Cm is reduced by high frequency nerve stimulation.
In the clinical setting local anesthetics inhibit peripheral nerves (speed of onset) in what order?
B > C > small diameter A > large diameter A
Where do local anesthetics bind? How do they bind?
Reversibly bind to the alpha subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel
How many and what type of subunits does the voltage-gated sodium channel contain?
1 alpha subunit
2 beta subunits
What subunit forms the entire ion conducting pore in the voltage-gated sodium channel?
alpha subunit