Trigeminovascular system
Encyclopedia
The trigeminovascular system consists of neuron
s in the trigeminal nerve
that innervate cerebral blood vessels. It has been hypothesized that the trigeminovascular system may be involved in some types of headache
s.
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s in the trigeminal nerve
Trigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...
that innervate cerebral blood vessels. It has been hypothesized that the trigeminovascular system may be involved in some types of headache
Headache
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
s.
External links
- Pain: Current Understanding, Emerging Therapies, and Novel Approaches to Drug Discovery, Second Edition by Rajesh Munglani, William K. Schmidt and Chas Bountra, page 321
- Functional MRI by Chrit T. W. Moonen, P. A. Bandettini, page 21
- Craniofacial dysfunction and pain: manual therapy, assessment and management by Harry Von Piekartz, Lynn Bryden, page 90