a neurological case study

Receptor Neuron in the Peripheral Nervous System that Transmits Information from a Burned Finger
Human skin contains a broad sensory receptor that alerts a person to the present outside temperature, pressure, discomfort, and any light touches. All the way to the neurological system, these neurons transmit the information they get from the skin.
What Kind of Neuron This Is—Afferent or Efferent?
An afferent neuron is the type of neuron that communicates the information mentioned above to the nervous system. Afferent neurons receive various information from the sensory organs like the eyes and the skin, then transmit that input information to the central nervous system (Woolsey, Hanaway & Gado, 2017).

Where Information from Receptor Neuron Is Sent and How It Results in Amy Moving Her Finger Away from The Stove

The pain sensory which is in the sensory receptors in Amy’s fingers travels to the central nervous system specifically the brain through the neurotransmitters. Once the information reaches the brain, a signal is relayed to the peripheral nervous system through the efferent neurons which prompt the muscles on the arm to draw back from the hot stove. All these actions take place within a second from the moment the finger became in contact with the hot stove.

Number of Neurons Typically Involved in The Response and Their Names

The neurons involved in the response are afferent and efferent neurons. Afferent neurons relay signals to the brain while the efferent neurons relay response from the brain to different body parts which alert the body on various things that are happening. The body response can be involuntary or voluntary.

Evolutionarily, Why Does the Human Body Have This System in Place?

Evolutionarily, the system is a survival mechanism of the body which helps it refrain from harmful sources.

What Would Happen If We Lacked the Response

People would hurt their bodies if this response were not in place.

Case scenario 2

What Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease

This is a disease that prevents the human body from producing dopamine neurotransmitter thus signals are not sent to the body to allow for control and coordination of some movements thus causing symptoms like tremors as well as rigidity (Schuepbach et al., 2013).

Cell Type Affected by The Disease

Nerve cells are the ones that are affected by the disease whereby they stop working efficiently or die when the dopamine neurotransmitters responsible for motor skills and movements are no longer produced.

Dopamine and Its Effects on The Body

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is usually used by the brain to cause-effect in motor skills. It allows the body to make controlled movements like maintaining body balance while walking.

The Structure of a Synapse and Why Glen’s Neurologist Would Prescribe Him a Dopamine Agonist?

The synapse can be broken down to its simple structure. There are many axons on the nerve cell originating from the cell’s nucleus. At the end of the axons are the dendrites and at the tip of the dendrites are the synapses which signal other synapses of various nerve cells. The signals are then transmitted to other body parts allowing the brain to command each of the parts on what to execute. The neurologist would thus prescribe dopamine agonist to combat the side effects of the disease like the tremors.

Whether It Is Advisable for Glen’s Children to Have Genetic Testing for The Disease

I would advise Glen’s children to have a genetic testing for the disease. In cases where SNCA or LRRK2 are involved, then the condition becomes hereditary with autosomal dominant pattern (Schuepbach et al., 2013). The presence of an altered gene in the cells can cause the disease, the reason as to why the affected people have parents suffering the condition.

Scenario 3

What MS Is

MS (Multiple sclerosis) is a chronic disease that mostly attacks the nervous system, the optic nerve, spinal cord and the brain.

Is MS A Disease of The Central or Peripheral Nervous System?

MS is a disease of the central nervous system (Woolsey et al., 2017).

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Primary Cell Structure Affected In MS

Majority of the axons found in the central nervous system and wrapped in a substance called myelin (protective sheath) which is rich in proteins and fatty or lipid substances. Myelin functions by coating, protecting and insulating the axons and fasten the nerve transmission in the nerve. In MS, the immune system of a person usually attacks their myelin in the central nervous system.

How Is the Action Potential of a Neuron Affected In MS?

A neuron affected in MS often speaks to in the process of the degeneration of the myelin sheath as the action potential slows down and then stops abruptly. The action potential refers to an explosive release of charge that occurs between the nerve cell neuron with its surrounding. The action moves along neuron to axon from dendrite through soma.

Scientists’ Hypothesis of The Causes Of MS

The instigators of MS are theorized to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Since this is not a conclusive answer, intensive research is being conducted by scientists across the world to come up with an irrefutable fact on the leading causes of MS.



References

Schuepbach, W. M. M., Rau, J., Knudsen, K., Volkmann, J., Krack, P., Timmermann, L., ... & Falk, D. (2013). Neurostimulation for the Parkinson's disease with early motor complications. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(7), 610-622.

Woolsey, T., Hanaway, J., & Gado, M. H. (2017). The brain atlas: a visual guide to the human central nervous system. John Wiley & Sons.