A client in an acute medicine unit of a hospital with a diagnosis ...

[jparksx]

A client in an acute medicine unit of a hospital with a diagnosis of small bowel obstruction is complaining of intense, diffuse pain in her abdomen. Which of the following physiological phenomena is most likely contributing to her complaint?
 
  A)
  Nociceptive afferents are conducting the sensation of pain along the cranial and spinal nerve pathways of the ANS.
  B)
  First-order neurons are inappropriately signaling pain to the dorsal root ganglion.
  C)
  The client is experiencing neuropathic pain.
  D)
  The client's C fibers are conducting pain in the absence of damaged A fibers.

Question 2

A child is experiencing difficulty with chewing and swallowing. The nurse knows that which of the following cells may be innervating specialized gut-related receptors that provide taste and smell?
 
  A)
  Special somatic afferent fibers
  B)
  General somatic afferents
  C)
  Special visceral afferent cells
  D)
  General visceral afferent neurons

[owenfalvey]

Answer to Question 1

Ans:
A

Feedback:

Visceral pain, as characterized by the client's description of her pain, is conducted by way of nociceptive afferents that use the cranial and spinal nerve pathways of the ANS. The problem is not likely rooted in the inappropriate firing of first-order neurons or the substitution of conduction by C fibers. Pain that is attributable to a pathological process apart from the neural pain network is not normally considered to be neuropathic.

Answer to Question 2

Ans:
C

Feedback:

Special visceral afferent cells innervate specialized gut-related receptors. Their central processes communicate with special VIA column neurons that project to reflex circuits producing salivation, chewing, swallowing, and other responses. Special somatic afferent fibers are concerned with joint and tendon sensation. General somatic afferents respond to stimuli that produce pressure or pain. General visceral afferent neurons innervate visceral structures such as the GI tract, urinary bladder, and the heart and great vessels.

[jparksx]

Excellent

[bdobbins]

TYSM