Physiology of Pain

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Questions and Answers

What type of stimuli can trigger an acute pain response?

Harmless stimuli

Pleasant stimuli

Damaging or potentially damaging stimuli (correct)

Beneficial stimuli

What is the role of nociception in the body?

To detect and respond to harmful stimuli (correct)

To regulate hunger and thirst

To reduce inflammation

To promote tissue repair

What is the primary outcome of an acute pain response?

Withdrawal from the harmful stimulus (correct)

Increased sensitivity to stimuli

Enhanced cognitive function

Relaxation and reduced stress

What is the purpose of acute pain in the body?

To warn of potential danger Signup and view all the answers

What process involves the normal processing of pain and responses to harmful stimuli?

Nociception Signup and view all the answers

What type of stimuli can trigger a response from nociceptors?

Damaging or potentially damaging Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the body's response to acute pain?

Protection from further harm Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the receptors that detect noxious stimuli?

Nociceptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the physiological response of acute pain?

To warn us of danger Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of normal processing of pain and responses to noxious stimuli?

Protection of normal tissue Signup and view all the answers

What type of stimuli can trigger a response from nociceptors?

Damaging or potentially damaging stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between nociception and pain?

Pain is a response to nociception Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of the physiological response of acute pain?

Short-term and temporary Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of tissue damage on nociceptors?

It increases their sensitivity to noxious stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for pain that results from a non-noxious stimulus?

Allodynia Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of NSAIDs on prostaglandins?

They reduce their production Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for hypersensitivity to a noxious stimulus?

Hyperalgesia Signup and view all the answers

What is released by tissue damage that increases the sensitivity of nociceptors?

Inflammatory mediators Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Acute pain is a physiological response that warns us of danger. Nociception - normal processing of pain and the responses to noxious stimuli that are damaging or potentially damaging to normal tissue.

Inflammatory Pain

Tissue damage releases inflammatory mediators, including prostaglandins and bradykinin, which increase the sensitivity of nociceptors to noxious stimuli.
This process leads to sensitization in the pain pathway, resulting in hyperalgesia (hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli).
Hyperalgesia is characterized by hypersensitive nociceptors.
In addition, inflammatory pain can cause allodynia, which is pain resulting from a non-noxious stimulus.
Allodynia is mediated by the activation of low-threshold mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) reduce the production of prostaglandins, which contributes to the alleviation of inflammatory pain.