Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine > Part I. Pain: Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology > Chapter 2. Anatomy and Physiology of Pain Hilary J. Fausett

Anatomy and Physiology of Pain: Introduction

"Understanding the anatomy and physiology of pain transmission systems is important for the pain management specialist. Injuries to these areas may cause the common pain syndromes for which patients seek help (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia). Interventions at distinct anatomic sites may provide the relief the patient seeks (nerve blocks, implantable devices). And ongoing research may reveal new modalities or pharmaceutical agents to provide relief, such as the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. This chapter is designed as an overview for the clinician and not as a comprehensive review of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, about which textbooks have been written...."