While visiting his aunt that lives on a horse farm, Milo fell and injured his knee. His aunt cleaned the wound and covered the area with bandage. A week later, Milo was taken to the hospital because he could not open his jaws or swallow food. The doctor explained that a bacteria called tetanus bacillus that lives in animals’ intestines had entered the wound on Milo’s knee. The bacterium produced a strong toxin that stimulated Milo’s motor nerves innervating his jaws causing severe spasm of the muscles. Help Milo understand his condition by completing the following tasks:
Follow the path of the toxin from the motor neurons to the jaw muscles and muscles for swallowing by identifying and describing the structures listed below.
1. Myelin
2. Neuroglial cells (Schwann cells and Oligodendrocytes)
3. Node of Ranvier
4. Trigeminal (cranial nerve V) and Pons region of the brain stem
5. Glossopharyngeal (cranial nerve IX) and medulla oblongata region of the brain stem
6. Hypoglossal (cranial nerve XII) and medulla oblongata region of the brain stem
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