Chapter 16.2, Problem 13AYLO

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

Spinal gating mechanisms that modify a person’s sense of pain and awareness of body injury.                                        

Introduction:

Structures that are specialized for the detection of a stimulus such as pain and heat are referred to as a sensory receptor. Such receptors can either be real sense organs or simple nerve endings. A sensory receptor converts energy from one form to another. It is involved in the conversion of various forms of stimulus energy, including sound, light, heat, vibration, and touch into nerve signals. Pain indicates the discomfort that typically leads to evasive action. It is caused by noxious stimulation and injury in tissues. The nociceptors indicate the pain receptors that respond to the injuries in tissues and situations that lead to the tissue damage. They occur in the protective tissue called meninges and are responsible for headaches. Nociceptors are tonic receptors since the brain must be aware of the pain all the time.