Can anyone explain anaesthesia/numbing agents?

[saheh]

Not that I need to know it for any subjects,

but I went to the dentist at 4 to get a filling and it's still numb, and I'm just curious as to what goes on
Also I've been under Anesthesia before and that's a pretty cool feeling (up and coming drug addict? lol)

So if any of you guys know how it works/why it lasts for so long or just any cool info, please share

*As I sit here drooling on the keyboard

[Mao]

A pharmacology student (toothpick) can explain this better, but this is how I understand it:

- Neurons talk to each other via ion transport (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron#Mechanisms_for_propagating_action_potentials).
- Neurons are like normal cells, they too have a cell wall made up of a lipid bilayer.
- Ions are transported via ion channels in the lipid bilayer, i.e. there are small gates on the cell wall that open/close in response to stimuli.
- Anaesthetics are lipids which interact with the ion gate, and modify them in such a way that when they want to open, they cannot. (The chemistry here is quite complex and not well understood.) As the ion channels are cut off now, nervous signals cannot be transmitted, thus the lack of sensory response and also lack of motor control.
- Anaesthetic molecules are not strongly attached to neurons, so over time they will be detached and be expelled from the body.

[saheh]

Great!! Thankyou
I understand that!
I was so intrigued as to how it happens, because it's the weirdest feeling