Visceral pain

Visceral pain is defined as pain that results from the activation of nociceptors of the thoracic, pelvic, or abdominal viscera (organs) in the human body. Visceral structures are highly sensitive to distension (stretch), ischemia and inflammation, but relatively insensitive to other stimuli that normally evoke pain such as cutting or burning.

Visceral pain is diffuse, difficult to localize, and often referred to a distant, usually superficial, structure.[1] It may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, changes in vital signs as well as emotional manifestations. The pain may be described as sickening, throbbing, pulsating, deep, squeezing, and/or dull.[2]

  1. ^ Procacci, P.; Zoppi, M.; Maresca, M. (1986). "Chapter 2 Clinical approach to visceral sensation". Clinical approach to visceral sensation. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 67. pp. 21–28. doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(08)62753-3. ISBN 978-0-444-80757-1. ISSN 0079-6123. PMID 3823473.
  2. ^ Urch CE & Suzuki R. Pathophysiology of somatic, visceral, and neuropathic cancer pain. In: Sykes N, Bennett MI & Yuan C-S. Clinical pain management: Cancer pain. 2 ed. London: Hodder Arnold; ISBN 9780340940075. p. 3–12
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