EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Visceral nociceptors are located within body organs and internal cavities. The relative scarcity of nociceptors in these areas results in a pain that is often of a vague cramping/aching quality, diffuse, poorly localized, and of a longer duration than somatic pain (Table 1).

Detailed explanation-2: -Primary visceral afferents and their receptors are found in the serosa, muscle, and mucosa of the gut. Visceral afferents respond to mechanical stimuli (e.g., distension) and local luminal and chemical stimuli.

Detailed explanation-3: -Their most important function is to initiate autonomic reflexes at the local, ganglion, spinal, and supraspinal levels. Visceral receptors are innervated by small myelinated and unmyelinated fibers that have cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal or cranial nerves.

Detailed explanation-4: -Visceral Afferents Transmit Unique Sensations Conscious sensations arising from the viscera, in addition to pain, include organ filling, bloating and distension, dyspnea, and nausea, whereas non-visceral afferent activity gives rise to sensations such as touch, pinch, heat, cutting, crush, and vibration.