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Nociceptors are sensory receptors that are responsible for detecting harmful or noxious stimuli and transmitting electrical signals to the nervous system. The receptors are present in skin, viscera, muscles, joints and meninges to detect a range of stimuli, which may be mechanical, thermal or chemical in nature.

There are two main types of nociceptors:

C-fibres are the most common type and are slow to conduct and respond to stimuli. As the proteins in the membrane of the receptor convert the stimuli into electrical impulses that can be carried throughout the nervous system. A-delta fibers are known to conduct more rapidly and convey messages of sharp, momentary pain.

Additionally, there are silent nociceptors that are usually unresponsive to stimuli but can be “awoken” with high-intensity mechanical stimuli in response to chemical mediators in the body.

Nociceptors may have a variety of voltage-gated channels for transduction that lead to a set of action potentials to initiate the electrical signaling into the nervous system. The excitability and behavior of the cell depend on the types of channels present in the nociceptor.

It is important to distinguish between nociception and pain when considering the mechanism of pain. Nociception is the normal response of the body to noxious stimuli, including reflexes below the suprathreshold that protect the body from harm. Pain is only perceived when superthreshold for the nociceptors to reach an action potential and initiate the pain pathway is reached, which is relatively high.

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