It Was a Hot August Afternoon...

Author:	Anthony C. Steyermark Department of Biology University of St. Thomas acsteyermark@stthomas.edu
Abstract:	A farmer becomes concerned after discovering a number of dead animals on his small farm, including some ducks, several deer, and a coyote, all within a single week. Fearing that someone might be poisoning his land, he calls in a veterinary pathologist to investigate. The case is designed to teach students in an upper-division comparative anatomy and physiology class about the central nervous system.
Objectives:	Learn that all vertebrate nervous systems are essentially similar. Describe how an action potential is initiated and propagated. Describe how neurons communicate with each other and with other cells. Describe the neuro-muscular junction. Apply knowledge of nervous system physiology to understanding the mechanisms of action of two neurotoxins.
Keywords:	Nervous system; neurotoxin; neuro-muscular junction; action potential; cyanos; cyanobacteria; anatoxin; saxitoxin
Topical Area:	N/A
Educational Level:	Undergraduate upper division
Formats:	PDF
Type/Method:	Interrupted
Language:	English
Subject Headings:	Physiology Veterinary Science Zoology
Date Posted:	03/09/05
Date Modified:	N/A
Copyright:	Copyright held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Please see our usage guidelines, which outline our policy concerning permissible reproduction of this work.

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