Pain, Temperature Regulation, Sleep, and Sensory Functions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts regarding pain, temperature regulation, sleep, and sensory functions.

Pain

An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Specificity Theory

This theory states there is a direct relationship between the intensity of pain and the extent of tissue injury.

Gate Control Theory

A theory that proposes that pain transmission is modulated by a balance of impulses conducted to the spinal cord, where cells function as a gate.

A Delta Fibers

Large myelinated fibers that respond to a broad range of painful stimuli and transmit pain rapidly.

C Fibers

Small unmyelinated fibers that convey dull, aching, or burning pain.

Neuromatrix Theory

An advancement of the gate control theory proposing that the brain produces pain patterns based on multiple inputs.

Nociception

The processing of pain, which includes transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation.

Pain Tolerance

The duration of time or intensity of pain that an individual can endure before initiating pain responses.

Referred Pain

Pain that is felt in an area away from the site of the injury due to shared nerve pathways.

Acute Pain

Pain that lasts less than three months and serves a protective function.

Chronic Pain

Pain that lasts more than three months and does not serve a protective purpose.

Hypersensitivity

An increased response to painful stimuli or a normally nonpainful stimuli.

Thermal Regulation

The body's ability to maintain its core temperature through heat production, conservation, and loss.

Hypothalamus

The brain region responsible for regulating temperature, including heat production and loss mechanisms.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct contact between materials.

Evaporation

Heat loss through the conversion of water to gas, primarily through sweating.

Sleep Stages

Phases of sleep, including NREM (non-REM) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Circadian Rhythm

The natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep, considered a type of dyssomnia.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep due to upper airway obstructions.

Nyctophobia

An abnormal fear of the night or darkness, which can interfere with sleep.

Olfactory Hallucinations

The perception of smells that are not present, often associated with neurological disorders.

Proprioception

The body's ability to sense its position and movement in space.

Anosmia

The complete loss of the sense of smell.