Question

Test vour knowledae e structures involved in the ascending pain pathway and describe their functions. plain why two different people with the same injury may have different pain experiences at are the main differences between acute and chronic pain? atare the major side effects of opioid analgesia and explain why they may occur? 1. L ist th Explain the purpose of a reflex ardc. 4. Wh 5, g tne gate control theory of pain, explain why a patient may find non-pharmacologica methods of pain control effective.

Answer 1

Answer :

1) ascending pain pathway that goes upward from the spinal cord toward the brain carrying sensory information from body to the brain .

Those are :

• The dorsal column system and spinothalamic tract are the major ascending pathways that connects the periphery with the brain .
• The dorsal column - medial lemniscus pathway is a sensory pathway of central nervous system that conveys sensation of fine touch ,vibration two point discrimination and proprioception from the skin and joints .
• Spinothalamic tract : it is respinsible For transmission of pain ,temperature and crude touch to the somato sensory region of the thalamus .

2) the sensitivity and tolerence of the pain is different For each person to person because it depends on several factors such as age , gender , ethnicity , culture etc.

3) purpose of reflex arc :

A reflex arc is a neural pathway that control a reflex . In vertebrates most sensory neurons do not pass directly in to the brain ,but synapse in the spinal cord . This allows For faster reflex actions to occur by activating spinal motor neurons without the delay of routing signals through brain .

This is an autonomic and rapid response to a stimuli which minimises any damage to the body from potentially harmful conditions such as touching something sharp or hot.

4) acute pain :

• Acute pain is of sudden onset and is usually the result of a clearly defined cause as an injury .
• Acute pain resolves with the healing of its underlying cause .
• Physiological : protective .
• Causes external : obvious .
• Tissue damage : resolution expected within days or weeks .
• Symptoms of illness

Chronic pain : chronic pain persists For weeks or months and usually associated with an underlying condition

• Pathological : non protective .
• Causes internal : obscured .
• CNS changes : resolution depends on mastery /control .
• Disease and way of life