C fiber mediated pain is commonly associated with which autonomic signs?

C fiber mediated pain is commonly associated with which autonomic signs?

• A. Sweating, nausea, and vital changes.
• B. Rapid, localized pain.
• C. Immediate motor withdrawal.
• D. Non-nociceptive input.

Answer: (A)

C fiber–mediated pain is the slow, dull, burning type of nociception that tends to be diffuse and long-lasting. Because these unmyelinated fibers conduct signals slowly and engage broader autonomic pathways, the experience is often accompanied by autonomic arousal—things like sweating, nausea, and changes in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.). This contrasts with fast, sharp pain produced by A-delta fibers, which is usually well localized and doesn’t typically come with strong autonomic symptoms. Immediate motor withdrawal is a rapid reflex mediated by spinal circuits and quick motor pathways, not a hallmark of C fiber–driven pain. Non-nociceptive input refers to signals from mechanoreceptors or other modalities that aren’t pain pathways, so they don’t describe the autonomic changes tied to C fibers.

C fiber–mediated pain is the slow, dull, burning type of nociception that tends to be diffuse and long-lasting. Because these unmyelinated fibers conduct signals slowly and engage broader autonomic pathways, the experience is often accompanied by autonomic arousal—things like sweating, nausea, and changes in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.). This contrasts with fast, sharp pain produced by A-delta fibers, which is usually well localized and doesn’t typically come with strong autonomic symptoms. Immediate motor withdrawal is a rapid reflex mediated by spinal circuits and quick motor pathways, not a hallmark of C fiber–driven pain. Non-nociceptive input refers to signals from mechanoreceptors or other modalities that aren’t pain pathways, so they don’t describe the autonomic changes tied to C fibers.