Transduction

Noxious stimuli are believed to be detected by free nerve endings in the visceral or somatic tissues. Their transduction involves either mechanical or chemical processes.

Mechanical nociception occurs whenever collagenous tissues are excessively stretched.

Chemical nociception occurs when nerve endings are exposed to allgogenic chemicals such as hydrogen ions, or potassium ions, serotonin, histamine, bradykinin and adenosine diphosphate.

Such chemicals are liberated in inflammatory responses or from injured cells or accumulate as a result of ischemia

It should be noted that in some conditions both mechanical and chemical processes may be active. In abscesses, the inflammatory process invokes chemical nociception while the tissue swelling causes mechanical nociception.

In trauma the injured tissue liberates intracellular potassium and lysosomal enzymes, but adjacent uninjured tissues may be subjected to excessive mechanical stress.

If you like to know more about Acutouch, browse the site or contact us for free information.

All Rights Reserved. 2003.