Anatomy and Physiology of Pain

Pain is a sensory experience and distinct from nociception, which refers to the neural mechanisms involved in detecting tissue damage. This article reviews nociceptive mechanisms and how these relate to pain sensation. The emphasis is on recent advances in our understanding of nociceptive mechanisms, including transduction at the peripheral nociceptor terminal, ascending pathways, and the cortical role in pain. Plasticity in nociceptive systems and a new role for descending systems in pain facilitation are also discussed.