Biology/Helpppp...lol
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Question
Why is it that when someone burns themself they yell after they pull their hand back, do they feel the pain before they pull it back?
Hi Loushanna: Thanks for your question. A person feels pain immediately in the skin after a burn because pain receptors (nociceptors) have been stimulated.
The delay that they experience in yelling and pulling the hand back are reflex actions and have to pass through the spinal cord back to the muscles of the hand.
In short, the pain receptors go directly to the brain, the yelling and hand pulling have to take the long way via spinal cord back to the muscles of the hand (and vocal cords!). So there is a short delay.
I hope this answer has helped you. Please write back if you have more questions.
FM Rollwagen, PhD
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Answers by Expert:
Florence M Rollwagen
Expertise
I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.
Experience
I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.
Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology
Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966
MS biology 1968
PhD immunology 1979
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