Nociceptive pain. Pain that arises from actual or threatened damage to non-neural tissue and is due to the activation of nociceptors. This term is designed to contrast with neuropathic pain. The term is used to describe pain occurring with a normally functioning somatosensory nervous system to contrast with the abnormal function seen in neuropathic pain.
Nociceptor. A high-threshold sensory receptor of the peripheral somatosensory nervous system that is capable of transducing and encoding noxious stimuli. They include sensors for heat, mechanical and chemical stimuli.
Nociception. The neural process of encoding noxious stimuli. Consequences of encoding may be autonomic (e.g., elevated blood pressure) or behavioral (motor withdrawal reflex or more complex nocifensive behavior). Pain sensation is not necessarily implied.
Nociceptive neuron. A central or peripheral neuron of the somatosensory nervous system that is capable of encoding noxious stimuli.
Nociceptive stimulus. An actually or potentially tissue-damaging event transduced and encoded by nociceptors.
Noxious stimulus. A stimulus that is damaging or threatens damage to normal tissues.
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). IASP Taxonomy. Internet. Accessed on November 10, 2010.