Nociceptors

Sensory receptors for pain

General Information
Latin
Greek
TA98
TA2
FMA	84608
Details
System	Peripheral nervous system
Artery
Vein
Nerve
Lymphatic drainage
Precursor
Function	Detecting pain
Identifiers
Clinical significance
Notes

Nociceptors are specialized sensory receptors responsible for detecting pain. They are a crucial component of the nervous system, providing the body with the ability to sense potentially harmful stimuli. Nociceptors are found in various tissues, including the skin, joints, and viscera.

Structure

Nociceptors are free nerve endings that are distributed throughout the body. They are primarily located in the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin, as well as in deeper tissues such as muscles and organs. These receptors are connected to afferent nerve fibers, which transmit pain signals to the central nervous system.

Types

Nociceptors can be classified based on the type of stimuli they detect:

• Mechanical nociceptors: Respond to physical damage such as cutting or crushing.
• Thermal nociceptors: Activated by extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.
• Chemical nociceptors: Triggered by chemical stimuli, including inflammatory mediators and toxins.
• Polymodal nociceptors: Sensitive to a combination of mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli.

Function

The primary function of nociceptors is to detect and respond to potentially damaging stimuli by sending signals to the spinal cord and brain. This process is known as nociception. When activated, nociceptors release neurotransmitters that propagate the pain signal along the nervous pathway.

Pathophysiology

In certain conditions, nociceptors can become sensitized, leading to hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain) or allodynia (pain from stimuli that do not normally provoke pain). This sensitization can occur due to inflammation, nerve injury, or chronic pain conditions.

Clinical significance

Understanding the role of nociceptors is essential in the management of pain. Targeting nociceptors and their pathways can lead to the development of effective analgesics and pain management strategies. Conditions such as neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia involve dysfunction in nociceptive pathways.

See also

• Pain management
• Sensory neuron
• Peripheral neuropathy

External links

• Nociceptors on WikiMD