Encyclopedia of Pain

2013 Edition
| Editors: Gerald F. Gebhart, Robert F. Schmidt

Itch/Itch Fibers

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_2068
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Synonyms

 Pruritus

Definition

Itch (Latin: pruritus) obviously serves nociceptive functions, but it is clearly distinct from pain sensation. It is restricted to the skin and some adjoining mucosae. Whereas painful stimuli inflicted on the skin provoke withdrawal reflexes, itching stimuli provoke the very characteristic scratching reflex. This reflex pattern indicates that the neuronal apparatus for itch has developed as a nocifensive system for removal of irritating objects and agents affecting the skin. One might also describe scratching as a reflex pattern that is used in situations in which the noxious stimulus has already invaded the skin. In this situation, withdrawal would be useless; instead, localizing the injured site by scratching and a close inspection appear to be more adequate.

Characteristics

C-fibers, responding to histamine application in parallel to the itch ratings of subjects, have been discovered among the group of mechano-insensitive C-afferents (Schmelz et al. 1997...
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References

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Anesthesiology in MannheimUniversity of HeidelbergMannheimGermany