Tag: Edinger westphal nucleus

Pinpoint pupils, or miosis, are a classic and highly sensitive indicator of opioid intoxication, often signaling a medical emergency alongside respiratory depression. To understand why opiates cause small pupils, one must examine the intricate workings of the autonomic nervous system and the specific, powerful effects these substances have on the brain's regulatory centers.

Opioid-induced miosis, the characteristic pinpoint pupils, is one of the most sensitive and frequently assessed objective indices of opioid effects. This phenomenon is a direct result of how these powerful substances interact with specific brain receptors, triggering a cascade of neurological events that forcibly constrict the pupil.