Nociception 1 of 4: A Fibers vs C Fibers

[DrLeoCharm]

This is quite a different perspective of nociception. Typically according to medical textbooks the A fibres are the fast sharp pain and the C fibres the slow duller aches that we get even after a stimulus has been removed. Typically they synapse within the substantia gelatinosa considered the first 3 laminae and at most lamina 5. Pain is the appraisal of a somatic sensitisation - i.e. something can still hurt even though it has not reached the brain but we can choose to like this or to hate it ?

[SuperNewf1]

Pain has ruined my life. Too bad nobody believes I have pain, and they won't treat me. ;-(

[NeuroDocUniverse]

Great question! C fibers can cause pain for sure (so can the large myelinated A fibers). Increased mechanoreceptor activity causes presynaptic inhibition of much of the dorsal horn targets for both A and C fibers (or so the current theory goes :-)

[urigott]

Really great, though I have a question about it: if so (c fibers don't cause pain)- why does blocking c fibers transmission eliminates pain, as in the gait theory? thanks!

[MrTonypurnell]

Really great lecture, short and sweet and very informative

[MrTonypurnell]

Really great lecture, short and sweet and very informative