Concept explainers
Elaine Sawyer, 35, was on her way to the local elementary school with her three children when a bus near her minivan had an accident. the accident on Route 91 occurred. As Mrs. Sawyer swerved to avoid the bus, the right rear corner of her minivan struck the side of the bus, causing the minivan to tip over and slide on its side. Her children were shaken but unhurt. Mrs. Sawyer, however, suffered a severe head injury that caused post-traumatic seizures.
The drugs initially prescribed for her treatment were insufficient to control these seizures. Her doctor additionally prescribed Valium (diazepam), but suggested that she use it only for a month because Valium induces tolerance (loses its effectiveness). After a month of Valium treatment, Mrs. Sawyer no longer had seizures and gradually reduced and eliminated her use of Valium. After being seizure-free for another year, restrictions on her driver’s license were lifted.
Valium enhances inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). What is an IPSP? How does it affect action potential generation?
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Anatomy & Physiology (6th Edition)
- Spinal Cord It had been a busy week for Amanda. She had taken three exams, and as if that wasn't stressful enough, her sister was ill and Amanda had to spend much of her time helping out at home. By the end of the week, Amanda decided to go to the beach for a walk and some genuine relaxation. The day was warm and Amanda took off her shoes so she could walk barefoot and feel the sand between her toes. Halfway down the beach, she stepped on something extremely sharp and withdrew her foot in pain. As Amanda hopped around the sand on one foot, rubbing the other to ease the pain, she decided to put her shoes back on. As Amanda stepped on something sharp, she withdrew her foot due to reflexes. Any pain experienced would have been just AFTER she moved her foot off of the sharp object. Why is there a delay in perceiving the pain sensation?arrow_forwardSpinal Cord It had been a busy week for Amanda. She had taken three exams, and as if that wasn't stressful enough, her sister was ill and Amanda had to spend much of her time helping out at home. By the end of the week, Amanda decided to go to the beach for a walk and some genuine relaxation. The day was warm and Amanda took off her shoes so she could walk barefoot and feel the sand between her toes. Halfway down the beach, she stepped on something extremely sharp and withdrew her foot in pain. As Amanda hopped around the sand on one foot, rubbing the other to ease the pain, she decided to put her shoes back on. Regarding the reflex that moved her injured foot, classify it according to the complexity of the circuit.arrow_forwardTed is a war veteran who was hit in the back with small pieces of shrapnel. His skin is numb in the center of his buttocks and along the entire posterior side of a lower limb, but there is no motor problem. Indicate which of the following choices is the most likely site of his nerve injury, and explain your choice: (a) a few dorsal roots of the cauda equina, (b) spinal cord transection at C6, (c) spinal cord transection at L5, (d) femoral nerve transected in the lumbar region.arrow_forward
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