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Seminars in Neurosurgery 2004; 15(1): 5-12
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830010
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Anatomy and Physiology of Pain

Mary M. Heinricher1
  • 1Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
07. Juli 2004 (online)

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Pain is a sensory experience and distinct from nociception, which refers to the neural mechanisms involved in detecting tissue damage. This article reviews nociceptive mechanisms and how these relate to pain sensation. The emphasis is on recent advances in our understanding of nociceptive mechanisms, including transduction at the peripheral nociceptor terminal, ascending pathways, and the cortical role in pain. Plasticity in nociceptive systems and a new role for descending systems in pain facilitation are also discussed.

KEYWORDS

Nociceptive mechanisms - transduction - cortex - plasticity - modulation

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Mary M HeinricherPh.D. 

Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University

3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, L472, Portland, OR 97239

eMail: heinricm@ohsu.edu

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