Compare and contrast the efferent and afferent nerve pathways.
Afferent and efferent neurons belong to the peripheral nervous system and is composed of a cell body, dendrons, and dendrites. They both help the brain in the coordination of sensory stimuli with their responses (Rachna, 2021). An involuntary movement that resulted from a sensory reaction is caused by the collaboration of afferent and efferent nerve pathways; this is the spinal reflex arc (Dlugasch & Story, 2021). The afferent or sensory nerve transfers the messages or signals from various organs to the spinal cord or brain. In contrast, efferent nerve or motor nerve transfer the messages or signals from the spinal cord or brain to multiple organs.
What is nociception?
Nociception, the sensory mechanism that allows animals to sense and avoid potentially tissue-damaging stimuli, is critical for survival (W.D. Tracey, 2017). This process relies on nociceptors, which are specialized neurons that detect and respond to potential harm in the forms of energy like heat, mechanical and chemical in the environment. The sensory stimuli reach the brain may perceive it as painful.
What is somatogenic pain?
Somatogenic pain is divided into “nociceptive” and “neuropathic. Nociceptive stimulation then transmits signals to the central nervous system through integral somatosensory pain pathways, causing a person to experience pain. Neuropathic pain, or deafferentation pain, refers to pain following direct damage to the nervous system. Neuropathic pain can be classified as either peripheral (diabetic neuropathy or phantom limb pain) or central (spinal cord injury, postherpetic neuralgia).
What is hyperalgesia? How does Naloxone work?
Hyperalgesia is an abnormally increased sensitivity to pain, which may be caused by damage to nociceptors or peripheral nerves and can cause hypersensitivity to stimulus. Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is defined as a state of nociceptive sensitization caused by exposure to opioids. (Dave, 2018). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids
