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Nociceptors are sensory receptors responsible for pain perception in animals. There are four types of nociceptors, including thermal, mechanical, chemical, and dormant. The central nervous system recognizes the nerve impulse from the nociceptor as pain.
A nociceptor is the type of nerve ending responsible for pain perception in most animals. It is a sensory receptor found in almost all regions of an animal’s body, both internally and externally. The chain of events by which a nociceptor detects pain and transmits the signal to the brain is called nociception.
The central nervous system uses specific cells to send signals from various areas of the body to the brain. These cells are called neurons. They send signals by both electronic and chemical means. Specific neurons control, among other things, an animal’s ability to perceive itself and its environment. Others allow the body to respond to those stimuli with controlled movements. They are called sensory and motor neurons, respectively.
Within the category of sensory receptors is the nociceptor. There are four types of nociceptors. Three of them react quickly to their various triggers.
A thermal nociceptor reacts when an animal’s body is subjected to extreme temperatures that can threaten the animal’s well-being. Any temperature above 107°F (about 42°C) will require the thermal nociceptor. Pain that results from cuts or pressure on the body elicits a response from a mechanical nociceptor. Chemical nociceptors recognize pain caused by chemicals, such as capsaicin. Capsaicin is found in some peppers and causes the chemical nociceptor to signal a burning sensation to the brain, similar to its thermal counterpart.
The fourth nociceptor, the dormant nociceptor, only becomes active when the body has sustained damage. Sleep nociceptors do not detect any of the sensations of pain until they are activated by the inflammation that accompanies an injury.
A polymodal nociceptor can detect multiple types of pain. A mechanical pain receptor can function as a polymodal nociceptor by identifying thermal stimuli along with pressure-induced pain. After injury and inflammation activate the dormant nociceptor, it is not uncommon for this nociceptor to become polymodal as well.
When exposed to a triggering stimulus, the cell’s action potential is activated, a process that is also referred to as a nerve impulse. During the nerve impulse the nociceptor converts the incoming stimulus into an electrical signal which finally manifests itself as a physiological reaction. The central nervous system takes this nerve impulse and recognizes it as pain.
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