The Role of Primate Spinothalamic Neurons in Hyperalgesia

  • William D. WillisJr
Chapter
Part of the Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series book series

Abstract

Hyperalgesia resulting from damage to the skin is characterized by a lowered threshold for pain and an increased degree of painfulness for a given suprathreshold stimulus. The same area of skin may also give rise to spontaneous pain. Two forms of cutaneous hyperalgesia have been emphasized (Lewis, 1942; Hardy, et al., 1952): primary and secondary hyperalgesia. Primary hyperalgesia occurs in the region of damage, whereas secondary hyperalgesia develops over a period of time in an area surrounding the damaged region. A related term is allodynia, which refers to a condition in which normally innocuous stimuli produce pain (Merskey, 1986). Although much of the experimental work on hyperalgesia involves the skin, there are similarities between cutaneous hyperalgesia and the pain associated with damage to viscera and to other deep structures, such as muscle and joints. For example, visceral damage can result in pain that is referred to the body wall; there may also be referred tenderness (Head, 1897; Lewis, 1942). Referred tenderness is a type of allodynia and is comparable to secondary hyperalgesia.

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© Macmillan Publishers Limited 1991

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  • William D. WillisJr

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