What type of pain do C-type nerve fibers transmit?

C-type nerve fibers are primarily responsible for transmitting dull, aching, or throbbing pain sensations. These fibers are unmyelinated, which means they conduct impulses more slowly than myelinated fibers, leading to a slower onset of pain perception. C-type fibers generally respond to stimuli that are likely to indicate tissue damage, such as inflammation, and communicate feelings of chronic pain or discomfort, which are often experienced as throbbing. This is contrasted with sharp pain transmitted by A-delta fibers, which are myelinated and transmit faster, causing the immediate, acute pain sensation typically associated with injury.

Understanding the function of C-type fibers helps to differentiate the types of pain sensations our nervous system can convey, with throbbing pain being characteristic of their transmission.