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Related Concept Videos

Pain01:20

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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...
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Bones are dynamic organs that require a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients. Around 5% to 10% of the cardiac output supplies blood to the bones. A typical long bone has three main sources: the nutrient artery, the metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries, and the periosteal arteries.
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Tension is a force along the length of a medium, in particular, a force carried by a flexible medium, such as a rope or cable. The word "tension" comes from Latin, meaning "to stretch". Not coincidentally, the flexible cords that carry muscle forces to other parts of the body are called tendons. Any flexible connector, such as a string, rope, chain, wire, or cable, can exert pull only parallel to its length; so, a force carried by a flexible connector is a tension with a...
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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.
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Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
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Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing
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Pain.

Ronald Melzack1, Joel Katz2

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science
|August 26, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Pain is a complex, subjective experience, not just a response to injury. Understanding the neuromatrix theory reveals how genetics, past experiences, and psychological factors shape chronic pain perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Pain serves adaptive functions, signaling injury and promoting healing.
  • Chronic pain conditions like phantom limb pain present challenges to traditional pain models.
  • Pain perception is subjective, influenced by cultural, psychological, and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the complex nature of pain beyond simple sensory transmission.
  • To introduce and explain the neuromatrix theory of pain.
  • To highlight the multidimensional influences on pain experience.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pain perception and neuroscience.
  • Theoretical framework development based on the neuromatrix theory.
  • Analysis of factors influencing pain, including genetic, sensory, and psychological variables.

Main Results:

  • Pain is not a linear sensory output but a dynamic process involving complex neural interactions.
  • The neuromatrix theory posits pain as a multidimensional experience shaped by various internal and external factors.
  • Genetic predispositions and synaptic architecture play a role in the development of chronic pain syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • The neuromatrix theory offers a more comprehensive understanding of pain than traditional injury-based models.
  • Pain perception is actively constructed by the brain, integrating sensory input with past experiences and contextual factors.
  • Understanding these multidimensional influences is crucial for addressing chronic pain conditions.