Neuroanatomy of the pain system and of the pathways that modulate pain

WD Willis, KN Westlund - Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 1997 - journals.lww.com
WD Willis, KN Westlund
Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 1997journals.lww.com
We review many of the recent findings concerning mechanisms and pathways for pain and
its modulation, emphasizing sensitization and the modulation of nociceptors and of dorsal
horn nociceptive neurons. We describe the organization of several ascending nociceptive
pathways, including the spinothalamic, spinomesencephalic, spinoreticular, spinolimbic,
spinocervical, and postsynaptic dorsal column pathways in some detail and discuss
nociceptive processing in the thalamus and cerebral cortex. Structures involved in the …
Abstract
We review many of the recent findings concerning mechanisms and pathways for pain and its modulation, emphasizing sensitization and the modulation of nociceptors and of dorsal horn nociceptive neurons. We describe the organization of several ascending nociceptive pathways, including the spinothalamic, spinomesencephalic, spinoreticular, spinolimbic, spinocervical, and postsynaptic dorsal column pathways in some detail and discuss nociceptive processing in the thalamus and cerebral cortex. Structures involved in the descending analgesia systems, including the periaqueductal gray, locus ceruleus, and parabrachial area, nucleus raphe magnus, reticular formation, anterior pretectal nucleus, thalamus and cerebral cortex, and several components of the limbic system are described and the pathways and neurotransmitters utilized are mentioned. Finally, we speculate on possible fruitful lines of research that might lead to improvements in therapy for pain.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins