Question

7. When you hit your funny bone (olecranon), where do you experience referred pain? What nerve would you hit?

8. a. When a person experiences a heart attack, why is there pain down the left arm? b.  Why would pain persist even after the stimulus is removed?

9. Identify the nerve carrying the axon of the first-order neuron and the levels where the first-order neuron enters the spinal cord.

Answer 1

QUESTION 7

When you hit your funny bone called 'olecranon', we would actually hit the ulnar nerve and the pain will be experienced at the place where the ulnar nerve works, which is down the forearm and into the ring and small fingers.

QUESTION 8

a. When a person experiences heart attack, there will be pain down or under the left arm because the nerve supply to the heart and also to the left arm originates from the same spinal segment and the nerve which branches from the heart and from the arm sends signals to the same brain cells. So, due to some neuronal connections, during a heart attack, pain will be experienced down the left arm.

b. Persistence of pain even after the removal of a stimulus will be due to the lingering (lasting for long time) of pain mediated chemicals and the exhibition of very little adaptation by the nociceptors (sensory receptors).

QUESTION 9

• The nerve carrying the axon of the first-order neuron is the spinal nerve as the first-order neurons conduct impulses from skin receptors and proprioceptors to the spinal cord.
• The levels where the first-order neuron enters the spinal cord is at the posterior root ganglion where the first-order sensory fibers ascends to the level of medulla.

Thank you!