Pain syndromes are important to understand as a neurologist as 1 in 10 people in the U.S. suffers from chronic pain! Also, this topic is covered on neurology examinations. Here you will review the pathophysiology of pain with appropriate depth for RITE® and board examinations, and become familiar with the most commonly tested pain syndromes.

Authors: Brian Hanrahan MD, Steven Gangloff MD

Chapter Multimedia Content

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Pathophysiology of Pain

  • Pain perception is both a function of the peripheral and central nervous system via both excitatory and inhibitory pathways.
  • Glutamate and substance P are the neurotransmitters most involved in promoting pain sensation, while norepinephrine, serotonin, and endogenous opioids like enkephalin inhibit pain sensation.

Ascending pain pathway

  • Noxious stimuli applied to skin → Travels along aδ (fast) and C (slow) nerve fibers within afferent first-order neurons → synapses in substantia gelatinosa within the dorsal horn of spinal cord→ ascends through the tract of Lissauer up 3 spinal levels and decussates to contralateral side → ascends through spinothalamic tract (second-order neuron) → synapses on ventral posterior lateral (VPL) nucleus of thalamus → travels along third-order neurons to the somatosensory cortex.

      • While the somatosensory cortex functions to localize pain, the amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and thalamus aid in the perception of pain.

Descending (modulatory/inhibitory) pain pathway

  • Pain perception is modulated and regulated by fibers within the periaqueductal gray, as well as the locus coeruleus.
    • After a pain response is received, fibers from the locus coeruleus descend to transmit norepinephrine back to the dorsal horn to attenuate that pain response.
    • The periaqueductal grey (and rostral ventromedial medulla) contain opioid receptors and use the endogenous opioid enkephalin in the descending pathway to blunt pain response.
      • Enkephalin inhibits GABA and in turn, allows for serotonin levels to increase.
  • Norepinephrine and serotonin function in this descending inhibitory pathway as the main neurotransmitters for pain inhibition.


 

Log in to View the Remaining 60-90% of Page Content!

 
 

New Subscriber? Use this form!

(Or, Click Here to learn about our institution/group pricing)
  • Full access to all site content, including a 1000+ question bank, 36 text chapters, 50 EMG cases, 550+ diagnostic images, 100+ EEGs, 850+ flashcards, "NYKN Sessions", and more!
    Full access to all site content, including a 1000+ question bank, 36 text chapters, 50 EMG cases, 550+ diagnostic images, 100+ EEGs, 850+ flashcards, "NYKN Sessions", and more!
    Full access to all site content, including a 1000+ question bank, 36 text chapters, 50 EMG cases, 550+ diagnostic images, 100+ EEGs, 850+ flashcards, "NYKN Sessions", and more!
    You have selected a Group Membership. After a successful payment you will be able to invite up to %s additional members.
    Applying discount code. Please wait...
  • Payment Details

  • Billing Details

  • If entered, this will appear on the invoice, replacing the First and Last Name.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents