Nerve Firing, Neurotransmitters, and Muscle contraction

Human Physiology and Anatomy 231

Summer Learning Plan

Overview

Nerves and muscle can ‘fire’ in response to stimuli, allowing you to quickly respond to what’s going on around you. How do they manage to do that?

BEFORE CLASS

Read pp. 374-378, 381-385-

REV IEW events in nerve firing at: http://faculty.alverno.edu/bowneps/nervefiring/nervefiringintro.htm

Bring to Tuesday Class

Definitions of RESTING POTENTIAL and ACTION POTENTIAL

Tuesday Class – Nerve Firing and Neurotransmitters

DEFINE resting potential and action potential

BRAINSTORM about what and how the membrane potential could change quickly from resting to action.

WRITE notes on the sequence of events in an action potential

Predict the effects of changing K+, H+, Ca2+, and blocking different ion channels on nerve firing and on the person.

ROLE-PLAY the interrelationships of neurotransmitters and their receptors

TAKE NOTES on neurotransmitters and receptors of the SNS and PNS

DO the SNS tutorial at http://faculty.alverno.edu/bowneps/index.html

BUILD models of the steps in second-messenger systems (figs 17.16-17-18)

At Home Learning Activities

REVIEW neurotransmitter action at:

http://faculty.alverno.edu/bowneps/neurotransmission/ntindex.htm

and second messengers at http://faculty.alverno.edu/bowneps/secondmessenger/smindex.htm

ANSWER questions 12, 13, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25 & 27 on p.407 in your textbook

WRITE complete answers to the following question. Backup your answer with logical arguments based on physiological concepts.

A child ingests organophosphate poison. Organophasphates bind to and inhibit acetycholinesterase. What symptoms could endanger this child’s life? Several substances are commonly used when neurotoxins are ingested. Which of the following three substances might help save the child’s life: acetylcholine, curare (which blocks acetylcholine receptors), or KCl. Explain why you think this substance will help.

Read pages 275-283 and 289-292

Do muscle contraction tutorial at http://faculty.alverno.edu/bowneps/muscle/mindex.htm

Bring to Thursday Class

·	Your answers to the at-home questions
	Flow chart of events in muscle contraction

Thursday Class – Muscle contraction

WATCH and LIST events in contraction

http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/movies/actin_myosin.html

BUILD a model of a skeletal muscle cell

ACT OUT the events in sliding filament contraction with models

WRITE notes from the lecture on different types of skeletal muscle

IDENTIFY difference between skeletal and smooth muscle

SUMMARIZE the different muscle types in an outline form

ASSESSMENT ON NERVE FIRING AND MUSCLE CONTRACTION