algesi-, alge-, alges-, algesio-, algi-, algio-, -algesia, -algesic, -algetic, -algic, -algia, -algy (Greek: pain, sense of pain; painful; hurting)
Used actively in medical terminology to denote a condition of sensitivity to pain as specified by the combining root.
algesimetry
The measurement of sensitivity to pain.
algesiogenic
Producing pain.
algesiometer
An instrument for measuring the degree of sensitivity to a painful stimulus; also, algesimeter, algometer, odynometer.
algesireceptor
In physiology, a pain receptor, usually a bare nerve ending without any organized end organ. Also, nociceptor.
algesthesia
The sensibility to pain or the perception of pain; any painful sensation.
The prevalence of pain disorder is twice as high in women as in men; peak of onset is in the fourth and fifth decades.
The most common sites of pain are the low back, head, face, and pelvis. It is estimated that low back pain disables seven million Americans and accounts for more than eight million physician office visits each year.
—Robert J. Campbell, Psychiatric Dictionary
Seventh Edition, Oxford University Press, 1996
Man endures pain as an undeserved punishment; woman accepts it as a natural heritage.
—Anonymous
algesthesis
1. Pain sensation; the ability to perceive pain; algesia.
2. The perception of pain; any painful sensation.
Pain exists beyond a simple touch
Beyond the pleasures and assurances of touch, there is always the looming possibility of pain. As a survival mechanism, pain warns our brains of danger and tells us to act to correct the situation, or to avoid whatever caused the pain.
Is there anyone who does not have vivid memories of burning one's hand on a hot stove and quickly withdrawing it? Pain is a powerful reminder and so we learn to be very careful and to avoid whatever caused it.
Pain does not always warn us of danger. It comes too late for us to avoid a bad sunburn, and a tumor in the brain can grow unnoticed because the tissue within our skulls has no pain receptors.
Pain receptors, or free nerve endings, are spread over a larger area than any of the other sensor receptors. They completely ignore light contact, and only fire up if the stimuli threaten to damage the tissue.
There are more pain receptors in the skin than other types of skin sensors, but they are not evenly distributed; for example, the neck and eyelids are densely covered, but there are few receptors on the soles of the feet and on the balls of the thumb, which is why a needle prick for a blood sample is often done on one of the thumbs.
Unlike touch receptors, pain receptors usually do not adapt; or barely adapt in some cases, so the nerve continues to transmit as long as there is pain.
After damage to the tissue has been done; however, the warning function is over and the pain falls off.
—"The Pain Beyond Touch" by Neil McAleer in The body Almanac;
Doubleday & Company, Inc.; Garden City; New York, 1985, page 59.
algetic
Painful; causing or pertaining to pain.
alginuresis
Painful urination.
algiocide
Pain killer.
algiomotor
Producing painful movements, such as spasm or dysperistalsis.
algiomuscular
Causing painful muscular movements.
algiovascular, algovascular
Pertaining to some vascular action as a result of a painful stimulation.
alveoalgia, alveolalgia
A postoperative complication of tooth extraction in which the blood clot in the socket disintegrates, resulting in focal osteomyelitis and severe pain.
amnalgesia
A technique by which all pain and memory of a potentially painful procedure are abolished, involving the use of drugs or, for minor procedures, hypnosis.
analgesia
A state in which painful stimuli are so moderated that, though still perceived, they are no longer painful; feeling no pain.
Cross references related to "pain, hurt; suffering, injury" word families:
-agra;
algo-;
angina-;
dolor-;
Masochism;
noci-;
odyno-;
poen-;
pono- (toil, work; pain);
Sadism.
You may take a few self-scoring quizzes over some of the words in this unit by going to Algesi Quiz #1 to check your word knowledge of these words.
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