The Tired Swimmer: a Case Study on the Nervous System

Part I- Meet Annie

1. What vital signs or symptoms does Annie exhibit?

Annie exhibits blurred vison, eye strain, hands ache and feel weak, grasping for air, and she feels very tired.

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

A muscle disease can be the culprit for all the symptoms in this case. Blurred vision and eye strain can be from the eye muscles working too hard. The diaphragm is a large muscle that is very important in breathing.

3. Why is Annie having problems breathing?

Breathing is an involuntary function that can also be controlled voluntarily. The rhythm and rate of breathing are controlled in the medulla oblongata in the brain. Something has to be effecting that portion of the brain.

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

A possible reason for Annie's condition is that she might have a muscle disorder or something effecting her medulla oblongata on the brain.

Part II- The Doctor’s Office

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

Annie's additional vital signs is that she is sleeping longer than normal, she still has shortness of breath, she has been under a long period of stress, her hands and fingers are tired, her eyes are strained, have blurred vision and she had a period of eye drooping.

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.