Mon Prof Augmenté
Blocking the Pain Signal
Age 14 · Biology
Painkillers can stop an enzyme from making prostaglandins. With less prostaglandin, nerve endings are less sensitive, so pain feels weaker.
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In the picture
- An enzyme that turns fatty acids into prostaglandins
- A fatty acid molecule waiting to enter the enzyme
- A prostaglandin molecule docking on a nerve ending and making it more sensitive
- A painkiller molecule blocking the enzyme so the fatty acid cannot be converted
Examples
- Taking ibuprofen for a headache
- Using a pain-relief gel on a sore knee
Key takeaways
- Many painkillers work by blocking the enzyme step that makes prostaglandins.
- Prostaglandins make nerve endings more sensitive, so less of them means less pain.
Quiz: Blocking the Pain Signal (Age 14)
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How do many painkillers reduce pain?
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What do prostaglandins normally do to nerve endings?
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If less prostaglandin is made, how does pain feel?
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