Which nerve type is involved in sending pain signals to the brain?

The sensory nerve is responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain. These nerves are equipped to detect stimuli that could cause harm, such as extreme heat, pressure, or chemical changes, and relay that information to the central nervous system for processing.

When a painful stimulus occurs, sensory nerve endings known as nociceptors are activated. These nociceptors convert the physical signals of pain into electrical impulses, which travel along sensory nerves toward the spinal cord and ultimately to the brain. This is how individuals become aware of pain and can react to it.

In contrast, motor nerves are responsible for controlling muscle movements; sympathetic nerves play a role in the body's response to stress by regulating involuntary functions; and interneurons serve as connectors between sensory and motor pathways within the central nervous system. These functions are essential but do not involve the transmission of pain signals. Thus, the role of sensory nerves in pain signaling is crucial in understanding how the body perceives and reacts to pain.