Compare fast and slow pain based on the following parameters: receptors involved, fibers carrying the sensation, area of termination in the spinal cord, pathways involved from the... Compare fast and slow pain based on the following parameters: receptors involved, fibers carrying the sensation, area of termination in the spinal cord, pathways involved from the spinal cord to the thalamus, and neurotransmitters released at the terminals.
Understand the Problem
The question asks to compare fast and slow pain based on the following parameters: receptors involved, fibers carrying the sensation, area of termination in the spinal cord, pathways involved from the spinal cord to the thalamus, and neurotransmitters released at the terminals.
Answer
Fast pain involves A delta fibers, glutamate, and the neospinothalamic tract. Slow pain involves C fibers, glutamate, substance P, CGRP, and the paleospinothalamic tract.
Here is a comparison of fast and slow pain:
- Receptors involved:
- Fast pain: Primarily mechanoreceptors and thermal nociceptors
- Slow pain: Polymodal nociceptors (respond to thermal, mechanical, and chemical stimuli)
- Fibers carrying the sensation:
- Fast pain: A delta fibers
- Slow pain: C fibers
- Area of termination in the spinal cord:
- Fast pain: Primarily in lamina I and V of the dorsal horn
- Slow pain: Primarily in lamina II and III of the dorsal horn (substantia gelatinosa)
- Pathways involved from the spinal cord to the thalamus:
- Fast pain: Primarily the neospinothalamic tract
- Slow pain: Primarily the paleospinothalamic tract
- Neurotransmitters released at the terminals:
- Fast pain: Glutamate
- Slow pain: Glutamate, Substance P, and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide)
Answer for screen readers
Here is a comparison of fast and slow pain:
- Receptors involved:
- Fast pain: Primarily mechanoreceptors and thermal nociceptors
- Slow pain: Polymodal nociceptors (respond to thermal, mechanical, and chemical stimuli)
- Fibers carrying the sensation:
- Fast pain: A delta fibers
- Slow pain: C fibers
- Area of termination in the spinal cord:
- Fast pain: Primarily in lamina I and V of the dorsal horn
- Slow pain: Primarily in lamina II and III of the dorsal horn (substantia gelatinosa)
- Pathways involved from the spinal cord to the thalamus:
- Fast pain: Primarily the neospinothalamic tract
- Slow pain: Primarily the paleospinothalamic tract
- Neurotransmitters released at the terminals:
- Fast pain: Glutamate
- Slow pain: Glutamate, Substance P, and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide)
More Information
Fast pain is also known as epicritic pain, whereas slow pain is also known as protopathic pain.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the roles of A-delta and C fibers; A-delta fibers are for fast, sharp pain, while C fibers are for slow, dull pain. Another mistake is to not differentiate between the neurotransmitters involved in each type of pain.
Sources
- Pain Principles (Section 2, Chapter 6) Neuroscience Online - nba.uth.tmc.edu
- Nociception - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- A Delta Fiber - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
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