protopathic

American  

[proh-tuh-path-ik] / ˌproʊ təˈpæθ ɪk /

adjective

Physiology.

1. noting or pertaining to a general, nondiscriminating responsiveness to pain or temperature stimuli (epicritic ).

2. primitive; primary.

---

protopathic British  

/ ˌprəʊtəˈpæθɪk, prəʊˈtɒpəθɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a sensory nerve that perceives only coarse stimuli, such as pain

2. of or relating to such perception

---

Other Word Forms

• protopathy noun

Etymology

Origin of protopathic

First recorded in 1855–60; proto- + -pathic

Example Sentences

Neither he nor his disciples have yet recognized the aid proffered them by students of the autonomic system or by the distinctions between the epicritic and protopathic functions and organs of the cerebrum, although these will doubtless come to have their due place as we know more of the nature and processes of the unconscious mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Hayem already turns the incomplete production of serum to account, for distinguishing protopathic pernicious anæmia from other severe anæmic conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

Protopathic sensibility is of a lower order than epicritic.

From Project Gutenberg

The fibres concerned are non-medullated and regenerate comparatively quickly after injury, so that protopathic sensibility is regained before epicritic.

From Project Gutenberg

The failure to recognise this form of sensibility has been largely responsible for the conflicting statements as to the sensory phenomena following operations for the repair of divided nerves.Those which subserve protopathic sensibility—that is, are capable of responding to painful cutaneous stimuli and to the extremes of heat and cold.

From Project Gutenberg