Chapter 16: Pain, Temperature Regulation, Sleep, and Sensory Function.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Pricking oneÕs finger with a needle would cause minimal pain, whereas experiencing abdom-
inal surgery would produce more pain. This distinction is an example of which pain theory?
a. Gate control theory c. Specificity theory
b. Intensity theory d. Pattern theory
ANS: C
According to the specificity theory, a direct relationship exists between the intensity of pain
and the extent of tissue injury. The remaining options are not related to the intensity of per-
ceived pain.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
2. Which pain theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from the spinal cord to the
higher centers in the central nervous system (CNS) modulates the transmission of pain?
a. GCT c. Specificity theory
b. Pattern theory d. Neuromatrix theory
ANS: A
Only the gate control theory (GCT) explains that a balance of impulses conducted to the
spinal cord, where cells in the substantia gelatinosa function as a spinal gate, regulates pain
transmission to higher centers in the CNS.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
3. Which type of nerve fibers transmits pain impulses?
a. A-alpha (Aa) fibers c. A-delta (Ad) fibers
b. A-beta (Ab) fibers d. B fibers
ANS: C
Of the available options, only medium-sized Ad fibers transmit pain impulses.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 486
4. Where are the primary-order pain transmitting neurons located within the spinal cord?
a. Lateral root ganglia c. Anterior root ganglia
b. Dorsal root ganglia d. Medial root ganglia
ANS: B
The cell bodies of the primary-order neurons, or pain-transmitting neurons, reside only in the
dorsal root ganglia just lateral to the spine along the sensory pathways that penetrate the pos-
terior part of the cord.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
5. The gate in the GCT of pain is located in the:
a. Substantia gelatinosa c. Nucleus proprius
b. Marginal layer d. Dorsolateral tract of Lissauer
, ANS: A
The synaptic connections between the cells of the primary- and secondary-order neurons lo-
cated in the substantia gelatinosa and other Rexed laminae function as a pain gate. The re-
maining options do not act in this function.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
6. Which spinal tract carries the most nociceptive information?
a. Archeospinothalamic c. Dorsal spinothalamic
b. Paleospinothalamic d. Lateral spinothalamic
ANS: D
Most nociceptive information travels by means of ascending columns in the lateral spinothala-
mic tract (also called the anterolateral funiculus). The other tract options do not carry the
most nociceptive information.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
7. The major relay station of sensory information is located in the:
a. Basal ganglia c. Thalamus
b. Midbrain d. Hypothalamus
ANS: C
Although the organization of all of the ascending tracts is complex, the principal target for no-
ciceptive afferents is the thalamus, which, in general, is the major relay station of sensory in-
formation. The remaining options do not fulfill this objective.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
8. Where in the CNS does a personÕs learned pain response occur?
a. Cerebral cortex c. Thalamus
b. Frontal lobe d. Limbic system
ANS: A
The cognitive-evaluative system overlies the individualÕs learned behavior concerning the
experience of pain and can modulate the perception of pain and is mediated only through the
cerebral cortex.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
9. Massage therapy relieves pain by closing the pain gate with the stimulation which fibers?
a. Ab c. B
b. Ad d. C
ANS: A
Massaging stimulates different Ab fibers to close the pain gate. The remaining options do not
fulfill this objective.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
10. What part of the brain provides the emotional response to pain?
a. Limbic system c. Thalamus
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Pricking oneÕs finger with a needle would cause minimal pain, whereas experiencing abdom-
inal surgery would produce more pain. This distinction is an example of which pain theory?
a. Gate control theory c. Specificity theory
b. Intensity theory d. Pattern theory
ANS: C
According to the specificity theory, a direct relationship exists between the intensity of pain
and the extent of tissue injury. The remaining options are not related to the intensity of per-
ceived pain.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
2. Which pain theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from the spinal cord to the
higher centers in the central nervous system (CNS) modulates the transmission of pain?
a. GCT c. Specificity theory
b. Pattern theory d. Neuromatrix theory
ANS: A
Only the gate control theory (GCT) explains that a balance of impulses conducted to the
spinal cord, where cells in the substantia gelatinosa function as a spinal gate, regulates pain
transmission to higher centers in the CNS.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
3. Which type of nerve fibers transmits pain impulses?
a. A-alpha (Aa) fibers c. A-delta (Ad) fibers
b. A-beta (Ab) fibers d. B fibers
ANS: C
Of the available options, only medium-sized Ad fibers transmit pain impulses.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 486
4. Where are the primary-order pain transmitting neurons located within the spinal cord?
a. Lateral root ganglia c. Anterior root ganglia
b. Dorsal root ganglia d. Medial root ganglia
ANS: B
The cell bodies of the primary-order neurons, or pain-transmitting neurons, reside only in the
dorsal root ganglia just lateral to the spine along the sensory pathways that penetrate the pos-
terior part of the cord.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
5. The gate in the GCT of pain is located in the:
a. Substantia gelatinosa c. Nucleus proprius
b. Marginal layer d. Dorsolateral tract of Lissauer
, ANS: A
The synaptic connections between the cells of the primary- and secondary-order neurons lo-
cated in the substantia gelatinosa and other Rexed laminae function as a pain gate. The re-
maining options do not act in this function.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
6. Which spinal tract carries the most nociceptive information?
a. Archeospinothalamic c. Dorsal spinothalamic
b. Paleospinothalamic d. Lateral spinothalamic
ANS: D
Most nociceptive information travels by means of ascending columns in the lateral spinothala-
mic tract (also called the anterolateral funiculus). The other tract options do not carry the
most nociceptive information.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
7. The major relay station of sensory information is located in the:
a. Basal ganglia c. Thalamus
b. Midbrain d. Hypothalamus
ANS: C
Although the organization of all of the ascending tracts is complex, the principal target for no-
ciceptive afferents is the thalamus, which, in general, is the major relay station of sensory in-
formation. The remaining options do not fulfill this objective.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
8. Where in the CNS does a personÕs learned pain response occur?
a. Cerebral cortex c. Thalamus
b. Frontal lobe d. Limbic system
ANS: A
The cognitive-evaluative system overlies the individualÕs learned behavior concerning the
experience of pain and can modulate the perception of pain and is mediated only through the
cerebral cortex.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 487
9. Massage therapy relieves pain by closing the pain gate with the stimulation which fibers?
a. Ab c. B
b. Ad d. C
ANS: A
Massaging stimulates different Ab fibers to close the pain gate. The remaining options do not
fulfill this objective.
PTS: 1 REF: Page 485
10. What part of the brain provides the emotional response to pain?
a. Limbic system c. Thalamus
