Physiology of Pain, Animation.
Summary
TLDRPain is a critical defense mechanism that alerts the body to potential injury or disease. It is transmitted via nociceptors to the spinal cord and then to the brain, where it is interpreted and localized. Pain signals travel through two main pathways: the spinothalamic tract for localized pain and the spinoreticular tract for emotional aspects of pain. Visceral pain from internal organs can cause referred pain due to shared spinal pathways, making it hard for the brain to discern the origin of the pain.
Takeaways
- 🩹 Pain warns about injuries or diseases.
- 🧠 The brain interprets pain signals.
- 📡 Nociceptors are the pain receptors.
- ⚡ A fibers transmit sharp pain.
- 🐌 C fibers transmit dull pain.
- 🔄 Pain signals cross to the opposite side in the spinal cord.
- 📉 Spinothalamic tract localizes pain.
- 💭 Spinoreticular tract deals with emotional pain.
- 🩺 Somatic pain comes from external injuries.
- 🔗 Referred pain can mislead the perception of pain location.
Timeline
- 00:00:00 - 00:03:21
Pain serves as a crucial defense mechanism by alerting the body to potential injuries or diseases. Noxious signals are relayed from the spinal cord to the brain, which interprets them as pain and sends instructions for protective actions. Pain receptors (nociceptors) are located in the skin and various organs, except for the brain, and are categorized into myelinated A fibers for sharp pain and unmyelinated C fibers for dull pain. Signals travel from first-order neurons to second-order neurons in the spinal cord, crossing to the opposite side before reaching the brain. Pain is transmitted through two primary pathways: the spinothalamic tract, involved in pain localization, and the spinoreticular tract, which addresses the emotional aspect of pain. Facial pain follows a distinct route via the trigeminal nerve. Somatic pain arises from skin, muscles, and joints, whereas visceral pain originates from internal organs and may be perceived in different locations (referred pain), such as feeling heart attack pain in the shoulder or arm due to overlapping pain pathways.
Mind Map
Video Q&A
What is the role of pain in the body?
Pain serves as an important defense mechanism that warns the body about potential injuries or diseases.
What are nociceptors?
Nociceptors are pain receptors located in the skin, superficial tissues, and most organs that mediate pain sensation.
What are the two types of pain fibers?
The two types of pain fibers are myelinated A fibers, which conduct sharp pain quickly, and unmyelinated C fibers, which transmit dull, longer-lasting pain.
How do pain signals reach the brain?
Pain signals travel from first-order neurons to second-order neurons in the spinal cord, then cross over to the other side and ascend to the brain.
What is referred pain?
Referred pain occurs when pain from internal organs is felt in a different location due to the convergence of pain pathways.
View more video summaries
- Pain
- Defense Mechanism
- Nociceptors
- Neurons
- Somatic Pain
- Visceral Pain
- Referred Pain
- Spinothalamic Tract
- Pain Pathways
- Pain Perception