The Soccer Mom
A Case Study on the Nervous System
Author(s)
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/collection/detail.html?case_id=325&id=325Department of Biology
Villanova University
Department of Biology
Villanova University
Department of Biology
Villanova University
Department of Biology
Villanova University
phil.stephens@villanova.edu
Abstract
Phyllis Jackson has fainted on the soccer field. She thinks she is just dehydrated, but her husband is worried. He has noticed that she has been having difficulty concentrating at work and is forgetful at times at home. At his suggestion, Phyllis goes to the doctor, where a series of tests reveal that she is suffering from a neurological disorder. In this interrupted case study, students are presented with Phyllis’s signs and symptoms, which they must interpret in order to diagnosis her problem. The case was developed for use in a one-semester animal physiology course taken by sophomore and junior science majors. It could also be used in an anatomy and physiology course or in a freshman general biology course.
Objectives
- To appreciate the role of myelin and the implication of myelin degeneration.
- To understand how action potentials are conducted along an axon.
- To understand the function of chemical synapses.
Keywords
Myelin; chemical synapse; action potential; corticosteroid; auto-immune disease; neurodegenerative disease; nervous systemEducational Level
Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper divisionFormat
PDFType Methods
InterruptedLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Physiology Biology (General)
Date Posted
04/19/05Teaching Notes
Case teaching notes are password-protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors. To become a paid subscriber, begin the process by registering.
Teaching notes are intended to help teachers select and adopt a case. They typically include a summary of the case, teaching objectives, information about the intended audience, details about how the case may be taught, and a list of references and resources.
Answer Key
Answer keys for the cases in our collection are password-protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors. To become a paid subscriber, begin the process by registering.