Chapter 24, Problem 1TE

Aspirin can cure a headache, but when you pop an aspirin tablet, how does the aspirin know to go to your head rather than your big toe?

To determine

The reason how aspirin know to go head rather than other body organ.

Answer to Problem 1TE

Aspirin’s pin-reducing and fever-reducing properties work well together in treating flu. Receptor sites on which aspirin can bind are present in the brain and not in the toe, so receptors will be directed toward brain and not towards toe.

Explanation of Solution

Lock and key mechanism is followed by the drug to bind to the receptor site same as the key fits into the lock to do the operation of closing and opening of the lock same mechanism is followed by the aspirin. It binds to the receptors in the brain block the signals and hence reduce the pain. Aspirin fits into the receptor site forms the hydrogen bonding which is a weak bond and can be easily broken after performing the appropriate task assigned to it. The type of mechanism is very important for drug to perform its function. Each and Every drug have for specific receptor in which it fits and it located in the brain to trigger the brain, which regulates the signal transmission between the neurons.

Conclusion:

Therefore, aspirin’s pin-reducing and fever-reducing properties work well together in treating flu. Receptor sites on which aspirin can bind are present in the brain and not in the toe, so receptors will be directed toward brain and not towards toe.