Physiology of Pain course for Medical Doctors

This session provides an overview of peripheral mechanisms of injury-induced and inflammatory pain. It includes a description of the physiology of nociception at the dorsal horn and supraspinal levels.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain why a warm shower feels burning hot on sunburned skin
• Explain how non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act as analgesics
• Recognize the major mediators of inflammatory pain in the periphery
• Explain the role of sodium channels in nociception
• Explain how chilli peppers produce the sensation of heat
• List the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters involved in pain transmission at the dorsal horn
• Explain why the longer pain is left untreated, the harder it can be to control
• Describe the physiological response to pain