Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
09:07
In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Neuronal Ensembles in Networks of Primary Sensory Neurons in Intact Dorsal Root Ganglia
Published on: February 10, 2023
Nociceptors for the 21st century
1Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. Francisco.alvarez@wright.edu
Current Review of Pain
|November 4, 2000
Summary
This review explores neurochemical classification of nociceptors, finding a simple neurochemical categorization aligns with recent molecular discoveries despite nociceptor diversity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Nociceptors are sensory neurons that detect noxious stimuli.
- Understanding nociceptor diversity is crucial for pain management.
- Current classifications are complex and evolving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in nociceptor neurochemical classification.
- To investigate the link between functional and neurochemical subgroups of nociceptors.
- To assess the suitability of a simplified neurochemical classification system.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on nociceptor neurochemistry and function.
- Analysis of molecular characteristics of identified nociceptor subgroups.
- Synthesis of evidence linking functional properties to neurochemical markers.
Main Results:
- Recent evidence supports a "simple" neurochemical classification for nociceptors.
- This classification aligns with newly identified molecular features.
- Despite complexity, a core set of neurochemical markers appears consistent across subgroups.
Conclusions:
- A straightforward neurochemical classification of nociceptors is emerging.
- This simplification aids in understanding nociceptor diversity and function.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the neurochemical landscape of nociceptors.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Thermosensation
Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
01:29Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
01:28Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...