Final answer:
Sedation is a lighter form of anesthesia allowing some consciousness and response, while general anesthesia induces a deep state of unconsciousness and lack of pain sensation, commonly used for surgeries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between sedation and general anesthesia involves the depth of unconsciousness and analgesia. Sedation is a drug-induced reduction in the patient's level of consciousness wherein the patient remains awake or is easily awakened, typically calm and able to respond to physical and verbal stimuli, but may still feel some sensation. On the other hand, general anesthesia results in a reversible state of unconsciousness and insensitivity to pain, typically used during surgical procedures to block pain and induce a loss of consciousness. Anesthetics used can be in the form of gases or vapors, like diethyl ether, and are usually delivered using an anesthesia machine. Injectable anesthetics such as propofol and ketamine may also be used to induce and maintain unconsciousness. The precise mechanism of general anesthetics involves multiple biological targets in the control of neuronal pathways, contributing to their effects on immobility, analgesia, amnesia, unconsciousness, and reduced autonomic response to noxious stimuli.