Patho

Pain

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience often signaling injury or threat to tissue.

Ischemia

Inadequate blood supply that can lead to tissue death, known as necrosis.

Nociceptor

A sensory nerve ending that detects potentially harmful stimuli.

Afferent

Refers to signals arriving at the central nervous system.

Efferent

Refers to signals exiting the central nervous system.

Spinothalamic tract

An ascending pathway that carries pain and temperature information to the brain.

A-delta fibers

Myelinated nerve fibers that transmit fast pain signals.

C fibers

Unmyelinated nerve fibers that transmit slow, lingering pain signals.

Substance P

A neuropeptide that promotes pain signaling.

Endorphins

Natural opioids produced by the body that inhibit pain signaling.

Somatic pain

Pain from skin, muscles, and soft tissue.

Visceral pain

Pain originating from internal organs.

Referred pain

Pain felt in a location different from its source.

Phantom pain

Pain perceived in a body part that has been amputated.

Acute pain

Pain that activates the sympathetic fight-or-flight response.

Chronic pain

Pain that persists over a longer period, often requiring activity pacing.

Pain threshold

The point at which a stimulus begins to feel painful.

Pain tolerance

The maximum amount of pain a person can tolerate or withstand.

Neuropathic pain

Pain resulting from injury or disease affecting the nervous system.

Sustained inflammation

Inflammation that continues as the triggering factor remains active.