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Anatomy & Physiology: Tetrodotoxin and Nervous Tissue Case Study

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  • Diaphoresis

    Diaphoresis is excessive sweating, often a symptom of nervous system or systemic distress.

  • Motor dysfunction

    Motor dysfunction refers to impaired muscle movement or control due to nervous system problems.

  • Paresthesias

    Paresthesias are abnormal sensations such as tingling, numbness, or 'pins and needles'.

  • Cyanotic

    Cyanotic describes a bluish discoloration of the skin due to low oxygen levels in the blood.

  • Hypoventilating

    Hypoventilating means breathing at an abnormally slow or shallow rate, leading to inadequate oxygen intake.

  • Bradycardia

    Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute in adults.

  • Gastric lavage

    Gastric lavage is a medical procedure to wash out the contents of the stomach, often used in poisoning cases.

  • Oxygen saturation

    Oxygen saturation measures the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen.

  • Voltage-gated sodium ion channel

    A voltage-gated sodium ion channel is a protein channel in neuron membranes that opens in response to voltage changes, allowing Na+ ions to enter and initiate action potentials.

  • Resting membrane potential

    The resting membrane potential is the electrical charge difference across a neuron's membrane at rest, created by unequal ion distribution and maintained by ion pumps.

  • Generation of an action potential

    During an action potential, the neuron's membrane potential rapidly depolarizes and repolarizes, transmitting an electrical signal along the neuron.

  • Function of an action potential

    The action potential allows neurons to communicate by transmitting electrical signals rapidly over long distances.

  • Role of sodium ions in action potential

    Sodium ions enter the neuron through voltage-gated sodium channels during depolarization, causing the rising phase of the action potential.

  • Effect of tetrodotoxin on neurons

    Tetrodotoxin blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, preventing sodium influx and thus stopping action potentials and neuron communication.

  • Cause of numbness after puffer fish ingestion

    Numbness occurs because tetrodotoxin blocks nerve signals by inhibiting sodium channels, disrupting sensory neuron function.

  • Reason for paralysis from tetrodotoxin

    Paralysis results because motor neurons cannot generate action potentials due to sodium channel blockage, preventing muscle contraction.