What type of pain is referred to as somatic pain?

Somatic pain specifically refers to pain that arises from the body's musculoskeletal system, including the skin, muscles, joints, and connective tissues. This type of pain is typically caused by the stimulation of pain receptors (nociceptors) in these areas due to damage, inflammation, or other forms of physical stress. An important characteristic of somatic pain is that it is often localized, meaning the patient can usually identify where it is occurring.

In contrast, pain from internal organs would fall under the category of visceral pain, which is more diffuse and harder to localize. Pain related to nerve damage is known as neuropathic pain and often has characteristics that differ from somatic pain, such as burning sensations or numbness. Finally, pain that is purely psychological in origin is classified as psychogenic pain, which manifests due to emotional or mental factors rather than direct physical cause. Thus, the definition and characteristics of somatic pain make it distinct from these other types of pain.