The tetanus toxin tetanospasmin blocks release of the neurotransmitter (GABA) th

Question

The tetanus toxin tetanospasmin blocks release of the neurotransmitter (GABA) that inhibits motor neurons and decreases muscle contraction. This causes persistence of the signal to contract and the resulting violent muscle contraction known as tetanic spasm. First, explain the series of events for a normal muscle contraction (this will be a long answer – you can list the steps in bullet form and you do not have to use complete sentences. Look at the terms from objective 18 (chapter 14) to help you with this answer).  Now explain where/how the action of tetanospasmin will affect muscle contraction. Finally, explain where the effects of rigor mortis happen in your muscle contraction answer.

Objective 18: Be able to describe how a muscle cell (fiber) contracts. You should have the following terms in your description: myosin, F-actin, cross-bridge, ATP, ADP, Pi, Ca2+, tropomyosin, troponin, calcium ATPase, sarcomere, neuromuscular junction, acetylcholine, T tubule, SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum), Na+, triad.

Explanation / Answer

The normal processes in the skeletal muscle contraction are listed below,

Tetanospasmin blocks the release of neurotransmitters from the pre synaptic membrane and therefore muscles remain in the contracted rigor state.

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