Anaesthesia | Pain | Anatomy of the Ascending Pain Pathway

Anatomy of the Ascending Pain Pathway
Session Overview
Description
An overview of pain and the nociceptive system, including a description of nociceptive pathways from transduction to perception of pain.

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

• Identify the major features of the peripheral nociceptor
• Classify primary afferents involved in pain transmission
• Describe the anatomy of the dorsal horn, including interconnections
• List the major spinal cord pathways involved in transmission of the pain signal from dorsal horn to brain
• Identify the major areas of the brain involved in perception of pain

Pain has a protective role.

Immediate pain warns us of imminent tissue damage, prompting us to withdraw from the source of injury.

Later, persisting pain encourages us to immobilize the injured area, giving damaged tissue the best chance to heal.

Nociception describes the neural processes involved in producing the sensation of pain. A basic nociceptive system is found in all vertebrates, but in higher primates the system has evolved into a complex organisation of peripheral and central pathways. Projections to higher centres in the brain produce an integrated, abstract representation of pain, prompting appropriate action.

This session looks at the anatomy of the nociceptive pathway from transduction in the periphery, through transmission to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, then on to the brain.