Editing Nociceptor (section)

{{Short description|Sensory neuron that detects pain}}
{{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc}}
{{Infobox anatomy
|Name    = Nociceptor
|Image    = Structure_of_sensory_system_(4_models)_E.PNG
|Caption   = Four types of sensory neurons and their receptor cells. Nociceptors shown as [[free nerve ending]]s type A
}}

A '''nociceptor''' ({{etymology|la|{{Wikt-lang|la|nocere}}|to harm or hurt}}; {{lit|pain receptor}}) is a [[sensory neuron]] that responds to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli by sending "possible threat" signals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noigroup.com/en/Product/EPBII|title=NOI - Neuro Orthopaedic Institute|website=www.noigroup.com|access-date=2017-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017151159/http://www.noigroup.com/en/Product/EPBII|archive-date=2018-10-17|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.massage-stlouis.com/nociception-and-pain-what-difference-and-why-does-it-matter|title=Nociception and pain: What is the difference and why does it matter? - Massage St. Louis, St. Louis, MO|website=www.massage-stlouis.com|access-date=2017-10-13|archive-date=2018-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101042615/http://www.massage-stlouis.com/nociception-and-pain-what-difference-and-why-does-it-matter|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK32659/|title=Mechanisms of Pain|first=National Research Council (US) Committee on Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory|last=Animals|date=8 December 2017|publisher=National Academies Press (US)|via=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref> to the spinal cord and the brain. The brain creates the sensation of pain to direct attention to the body part, so the threat can be mitigated; this process is called [[nociception]].