Taking It on the Chin
A Case Study on the Nervous System
Author(s)
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/collection/detail.html?case_id=350&id=350Department of Biology
Villanova University
Department of Biology
Villanova University
Department of Biology
Villanova University
phil.stephens@villanova.edu
Abstract
In this interrupted case study, students follow the story of Mr. Gower, who must have a root canal. All goes well at the dentist's, but that night Mr. Gower feels tired and light headed. In the morning, his jaw is stiff and he has no appetite. Over the next several days, his health continues to deteriorate. The case presents information describing Mr. Gower’s problems and symptoms, which the students analyze to determine what is wrong. The case was developed for use in an animal physiology course that is taken by sophomore and junior science majors. It could also be used in an anatomy and physiology course.
Objectives
- To understand nerve function.
- To understand the function of chemical synapses.
- To understand the difference between excitatory and inhibitory effects on a postsynaptic cell.
- To understand synaptic integation, postsynaptic potentials, threshold, and spike initiation.
- To understand the effect of changes in excitatory and inhibitory activity on the postsynaptic response.
- To determine how Mr. Gower’s problem can produce the observed response in motor neurons.
Keywords
Nervous system; nerve function; synaptic physiology; chemical synapse; postsynaptic cell; synaptic integation; postsynaptic potential; spike initiation; motor neuron; clostridium tetani; tetanus; lockjawEducational Level
High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper divisionFormat
PDFType Methods
Interrupted, Jig-SawLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Physiology
Date Posted
05/16/05Teaching 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.