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Referred pain from somatic and visceral structures

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Abstract

The term “referred pain” is used for pain localized not in the site of its origin but in areas that may be adjacent or at a distance from such a site, generally comprised in the same metameres. Pain can be referred by deep somatic or by visceral structures. Myofascial pain syndrome is a typical syndrome characterized by referred pain from deep somatic structures. Referred pain from visceral organs is the most important from a clinical point of view. The patterns of referred pain orginating from various viscera are important for a correct diagnosis. Different pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved in the onset of referred pain: convergence of impulses in the central nervous system and reflexes inducing muscle contraction, sympathetic activation, and antidromic activation of afferent fibers, which induces socalled “neurogenic inflammation”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Center, Institute of Medical Clinic and Cardiology, University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 85, 50134, Firenze, Italy

    Paolo Procacci MD & Marco Maresca MD

Authors
  1. Paolo Procacci MD
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  2. Marco Maresca MD
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Procacci, P., Maresca, M. Referred pain from somatic and visceral structures. Current Review of Pain 3, 96–99 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-999-0032-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-999-0032-y

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