An Overview of the Pathophysiology of Visceral Pain

An Overview of the Pathophysiology of Visceral Pain

Somatic pain has been extensively studied in the past, whereas the interest in visceral pain is relatively new. One explanation why visceral pain has rarely been studied is probably due to the major difficulties to reach internal organs rather than superficial structures, as well as the erroneous belief that the viscera were insensitive to pain. This review tries to summarize the most recent information regarding the pathophysiology of visceral pain, in order to offer to clinicians a thorough background for this complicated topic.