Botulism

Case Study – Botulism

1. What two Organ Systems are primarily affected by botulin intoxication?

Botulism is a neuromuscular disease. It affects the nervous system and muscle system. It is the result of clostridium botulinum toxin that settles in the intestine tract.

2. List the normal sequence of events that occur during synaptic transmission at a motor end plate.

During synaptic transmission at the motor end plate, the toxins bind to the motor end plates of the presynaptic membranes and prevent the release of acetylcholine from the motor neurons. When this happens it prevents the transmission for the muscles to contract.

First a nerve impulse has to reach the synaptic terminal. When this happens the synaptic vesicles then move and merge with the presynaptic cell membrane of the motor neuron. Once that occurs acetylcholine is released and diffuses through the membrane and into the synaptic clef. Once inside the synaptic cleft, acetylcholine binds to the receptors on the postsynaptic cell membrane on the muscle fiber.

The action potential of the nerve cell converts an electrical signal into a chemical signal where the transmitter is released, which causes a response from the action potential in the muscle cell that causes the muscle to contract.

Therefore the muscles in her eyes couldn’t contract and she had blurred vision.

3. What are Sarah’s symptoms and how are they related to the blockage of acetylcholine release from the motor neuron synaptic terminals?

Sarah’s symptoms are blurred vision that continues to get worse, trouble swallowing, having trouble speaking clearly, and having trouble breathing. Her symptoms relates to the blockage of acetylcholine release from the motor neuron synaptic terminals because the nerves and the muscles are having trouble communicating. Any interference between the nerves and the muscles affects any control of the muscles and causes the basic normal functions to become difficult and labored.

4....