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@elijah.jonesabout 2 months ago
What’s the anatomical basis for referred pain in the body?
I’ve heard that sometimes pain from one part of the body can be felt somewhere else entirely, like arm pain during a heart attack. What’s the anatomical explanation for referred pain, and why does the brain get confused about where pain is coming from? Are there any common examples besides heart attacks?
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Replies (3)
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@ethan_1987
Referred pain happens because nerves from different parts of the body share the same pathways to the spinal cord. Your brain can’t always tell where the pain is coming from, so it might “feel” like it’s coming from somewhere else, like shoulder pain during a heart attack.
about 2 months ago
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@hannah_ross
It’s all about how sensory nerves converge in the spinal cord. For example, the nerves from your heart and your left arm enter the spinal cord at similar levels, so the brain gets confused and thinks arm pain is heart pain.
about 2 months ago
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@ninaking74
I had gallbladder issues and felt pain in my right shoulder blade. My doctor said it’s because the nerves from the gallbladder and that part of the skin enter the spinal cord at the same place. Wild how the body works!
about 2 months ago