Title: Pathophysiology of Pain in the Peripheral Nervous System
Abstract: Pain is the unpleasant sensation that we experience in association with actual or potential tissue damage, while nociception is the neural process of encoding a noxious stimulus. This chapter focuses on the peripheral events that activate nociceptors causing signals regarding noxious stimuli to reach the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Modalities of noxious stimuli and their relevant receptor molecules are discussed, along with the channels that generate receptor potentials and facilitate axon conduction. We will describe the role of inflammatory mediators, and their receptors, in nociceptor activation and peripheral sensitization, and how neurogenic inflammation contributes to peripheral pain states. Interactions between immune cells, nociceptors, and their influences on pain are elucidated. The role of peripheral pain mechanisms in some disease states is discussed.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 4
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot