Pallesthesia

Pallesthesia is a medical term that refers to the ability to perceive vibration. This sense is often tested during neurological examinations to assess the function of peripheral nerves and the central nervous system.

Overview

Pallesthesia is a type of somatosensation, which is the group of sensory modalities that are associated with touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and vibration. It is mediated by specialized nerve endings in the skin and deep tissues that respond to mechanical vibration. These nerve endings, known as Pacinian corpuscles, are particularly sensitive to high-frequency vibrations.

Clinical Significance

The sense of vibration is often tested in clinical settings to assess the function of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves that innervate the skin and deep tissues. This is typically done using a tuning fork, which is applied to bony prominences on the body. The patient is then asked to indicate when they can no longer feel the vibration.

Loss of vibration sense, or hypopallesthesia, can occur in a variety of neurological conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. It can also be affected by normal aging.

See Also

• Somatosensation
• Pacinian corpuscles
• Dorsal columns
• Tuning fork
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injury

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