Anesthetics block pain by blocking the transmission of nerve...

Name: Problem 6, Chapter 28: Campbell Biology : Concepts and Connections
Uploaded: 2021-05-01T19:43:49-08:00
Duration: 7 min 33 s
Channel: Noah Boudrie
Description: Anesthetics block pain by blocking the transmission of nerve signals. Which of these three chemicals might work as anesthetics? (Choose all that apply and explain your selections.) a. a chemical that prevents the opening of sodium channels in membranes b. a chemical that inhibits the enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters c. a chemical that blocks neurotransmitter receptors

Anesthetics block pain by blocking the transmission of nerve signals. Which of these three chemicals might work as anesthetics? (Choose all that apply and explain your selections.) a. a chemical that prevents the opening of sodium channels in membranes b. a chemical that inhibits the enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters c. a chemical that blocks neurotransmitter receptors

Anesthetics block pain by blocking the transmission of nerve signals. Which of these three chemicals might work as anesthetics? (Choose all that apply and explain your selections.)
a. a chemical that prevents the opening of sodium channels in membranes
b. a chemical that inhibits the enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters
c. a chemical that blocks neurotransmitter receptors

Key Concepts

Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

These channels are fundamental for propagating action potentials in neurons. When they open, sodium ions rush into the cell, initiating and propagating nerve signals. Chemicals that prevent the opening of these channels can effectively block the transmission of nerve impulses, making them useful as anesthetics by halting signal propagation required for pain sensation.

Neurotransmitter Receptor Blocking

Neurotransmitter receptors on the postsynaptic membrane are crucial for converting chemical signals into electrical impulses. When a chemical blocks these receptors, it prevents the action of neurotransmitters, essentially stopping the signal from being received or transmitted. This interruption in synaptic signaling can contribute to anesthetic effects by dampening neural communication and pain perception.

Neurotransmitter Metabolism Regulation

Enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters normally control the duration and intensity of synaptic signals by breaking down neurotransmitters after their release. Although modulating the levels of neurotransmitters can affect nerve signaling, inhibiting these degradative enzymes increases neurotransmitter action rather than blocking signal transmission. Therefore, this mechanism is not typically used to achieve anesthesia.

Transcript

00:01 This exercise is a fun little way for us to try and apply a bit of our understanding about the physiology of the nervous system.

00:07 So the bread and butter for this particular question.

00:12 Well, let's just jump into the question.

00:13 We were talking about hypothetical anesthetics.

00:17 So anesthetics, which you might have heard of before.

00:21 And let's make sure we're spelling them, right? because i've heard of them, but doesn't mean i can always spell everything.

00:26 Anesthetics.

00:27 Think about anesthesia.

00:28 Think about something that tries to numbness.

00:30 You up and stop you from feeling pain.

00:33 And in this particular context, we're talking about how anesthetics block pain by blocking the transmission of nerve signals.

00:40 So if we have nerve, a nerve, let's just say this is a nerve.

00:44 We have the dendrites.

00:46 It doesn't have to be perfect.

00:48 And then this is soma, the body, right? and we have the axon coming up.

00:55 And then say this is the axon.

00:59 And then we have another nerve doing it all over again.

01:04 The goal of an anesthetic is to block the transmission.

01:07 So whether it's from nerve to nerve or within the nerve itself, that is the goal.

01:11 That is what we're looking to do.

01:14 Now, we're trying to talk about what possible ways that, let's say we're inventing a chemical that works as an anesthetic.

01:21 What possible chemicals might work as an anesthetic based on the function that they might be able to perform.

01:26 So we have option a, which we have a chemical.

01:31 And this chemical prevents the opening of sodium channels and membranes.

01:34 So prevents sodium channels from opening.

01:46 Now, let's think about how this could apply to the nervous systems in specific, or specifically, neurons.

01:54 As you might have, may or may not be aware, the way that nerves transmit signals is something called an action potential, which we'll just write right up here, because that's kind of a key point for the physiology of the nervous system, action potential.

02:07 This is essentially a change in, electric chemical membrane potential that causes a signal, electrochemical signal to move.

02:26 It's electrochemical signal that moves.

02:31 And this will ultimately carry information or allow an action to happen.

02:35 Specifically, ultimately a neurotransmitter will be released, something like that.

02:41 And this happens because sodium, which is an, a ketion, it's a positive ion.

02:48 So sodium will enter the membrane...

Please give Ace some feedback