Feeling Pain: A Communication Between the Brain and Body
January 17, 2012
There are pain receptors spread throughout the human body; they are located near the skin, in muscles, and on joints. When these nerves receive enough of an input, they open up and allow a flood of positively-charged ions into the nerve, which transmits the pain sensation to the central nervous system and brain.
The pain receptors might be activated through a number of different mechanisms, from a hammer hitting someone’s finger, to a dangerous chemical being dropped on a hand or leg, to scalding coffee being spilled. Any of these might result in pain from mechanical, chemical, or temperature changes that act on the nerves.
The brain, combined with the spinal cord, analyzes the messages received from the pain receptors and determines whether or not the body is in danger. If danger is sensed, then pain is the result, but if the inputs are not sufficient to result in pain, the brain does not send the message to moveprotect} the body part.