What is the Origin of Nociception?

The term was coined in the late 19th century, derived from the Latin word nocere, meaning "to harm" or "to injure." This etymology precisely captures the function of the system as the detection of tissue-damaging events.

What is the Mechanism of Nociception?

Nociception begins when a noxious thermal, mechanical, or chemical stimulus activates free nerve endings (nociceptors) in the skin or viscera. This activation causes a change in the membrane potential, leading to the generation of an action potential. The signal is then transmitted along A-delta and C fibers to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where it synapses and ascends to higher brain centers for further processing and eventual conscious perception.

Nociception ∞ Area

Nociception

Meaning

Nociception is the purely sensory process of detecting and encoding noxious, or potentially damaging, stimuli by specialized sensory neurons called nociceptors. This is the biological mechanism by which a harmful stimulus is transduced into an electrical signal and transmitted to the central nervous system. It is important to distinguish nociception from pain, as nociception is the objective physiological process, while pain is the subjective, emotional experience.