Itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to classify it as any one type of sensory experience. Modern science has shown that itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response patterns are different. Pain creates a withdrawal reflex while itch leads to a scratch reflex. Unmyelinated nerve fibers for itch and pain both originate in the skin; however, information for them is conveyed centrally in two distinct systems that both use the same nerve bundle and spinothalamic tract.
Read more about Itch: Mechanism, Causes, Treatment, Sensations Associated With Scratching
Famous quotes containing the word itch:
“There are several sorts of curiosity: a curiosity of self-interest, for example, which makes us desire to learn things that may be useful to us; and one of pride, which proceeds from an itch to know more than other people.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“trees grope with itch for Spring
go on and itch Trees you don’t know anything”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)
“Grandpa: Penny, why don’t you write a play about ism-mania?
Penny: Ism-mania?
Grandpa: Yeah, sure. You know, communism, fascism, voodooism. Everybody’s got an ism these days.
Penny: It sounds like an itch or something.
Grandpa: It’s just as catching. When things go a little bad these days, you go out and get yourself an ism and you’re in business.”
—Robert Riskin (1897–1955)