The Tired Swimmer Case Study

The Tired Swimmer

Part I

1. What vital signs or symptoms does Annie exhibit?

-Blurred vision, eye strain

-Aching/weakness of hands and fingers

-Constant fatigue/weakness

-Shortness of breath

2. Can you see any common features in Annie’s signs and symptoms?

-Eye strain and blurred vision often indicates a problem with the optic nerve in the brain. Her breathing problems and weakness are seen from more than just working out hard, it’s also everyday activities; this could be a neurological problem with synaptic centers.

3. Why is Annie having problems breathing?

-Breathing is involuntary and is controlled by nerves in the spinal cord. Parts of the brain also control these nerves and respiratory system, indicating that it could be a neurological problem.

4. What are the possible reasons for Annie’s condition?

-Annie’s signs and symptoms seem to indicate an issue with the nervous system.

Part II

1. What additional vital signs or symptoms does Annie exhibit?

-Weird sleeping patterns, long sleeps

-Stress

-Drooping eyelids

2. Draw a cross section of the mammalian spinal cord, including the dorsal and ventral roots, and draw a muscle to one side on the spinal cord. Draw in a reflex that includes a sensory nerve, an interneuron, and a motor nerve.

3. How could a decline in muscle function contribute to eye strain and blurred vision?

-Muscles control the eyes and can affect their function.

4. What are the possible reasons for Annie’s condition?

-She could have a degenerative neurological disease, a tumor, or some other factor that is affecting her neurological function.

Part III

1. According to the conduction test, was Annie’s nerve function normal?

-Yes

2. According to Annie’s emg test, was Annie’s skeletal muscle function normal?

-No

3. Considering your answers to Questions 1 and 2, why did activity in Annie’s motor nerves produce a skeletal muscle response that fatigued during repetitive stimulation?

-For whatever reason,...