The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Somatic and visceral are terms often applied to anatomical processes. In the strictest sense, somatic processes are those that pertain to body general body structure. The large interior organs located in the major body cavities (e.g., heart, liver, lungs) are referred to as the viscous and the organs described as visceral organs.
For example, there are visceral and somatic sensory tracts in nerve pathways, and sensory neurons can be divided into somatic or visceral receptors.
Pain is often divided into somatic or visceral pain (there is also a third type of pain termed neuropathic pain). Somatic pain results from stimulation of pain receptors in musculoskeletal or cutaneous tissue (skin and associated integumentary system structures). In contrast, visceral pain resulted from the stimulation of pain receptors in the visceral organs situated in the thoracic or abdominal cavities.
The types of pain differ not only in origin, but also in quality. Musculoskeletal somatic pain is often described as a dull or aching pain that can be localized as emanating from a particular structure. Cutaneous somatic pain is often a burning or pricking sensation localized to a particular surface area of the body. In contrast, visceral pain is often described as deep, pressure or squeezing related sensation that seems to emanate form several areas or as a pain diffuse (spread) over the thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic areas.
Physiologists often study how processes differ between somatic and visceral structures. For example, physiologists may study the conduction of action potentials and differences in the contractile mechanisms of skeletal muscle versus visceral smooth muscle.