How are pain signals from visceral receptors "referred" to the body surface?
A) the convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same second -order neurons
B) signals from visceral receptors that travel to skin receptors to activate them
C) the convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same first -order neurons
D) the convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same third -order neurons
E) the divergence of visceral and somatic afferents onto different second -order neurons

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon of referred pain, where pain from internal organs is felt on the body surface, occurs because visceral and somatic afferent nerves converge on the same second-order neurons in the spinal cord. This convergence can lead the brain to misinterpret the origin of the pain signal, attributing it to a location on the body surface rather than the actual internal organ.

How Are Pain Signals from Visceral Receptors "Referred" to the Body