John is working in a hospital while he
is studying to become a physician.
One of his duties is to transport
recently deceased patients to the
morgue. While moving the gurney,
he is surprised to discover how stiff
the bodies can be. When a person
dies, rigor mortis sets in as ATP
synthesis ceases. Explain why the
lack of ATP and the presence of
calcium in muscle cells would cause
muscles to become rigid, rather than
limp, after death. What causes rigor
mortis?
When a person drinks an excessive
amount of alcohol, that individual
becomes drunk or intoxicated, a
condition resulting in a lack of
muscular control and coordination.
Specifically, how does the alcohol
cause this condition?
An individual who has been on a diet
that eliminates dairy products
complains of muscular spasms and
nervousness. Specifically, why might
these symptoms result from such a
low-calcium diet?
Explain on a cellular level how the
bacterium Clostridium botulinum
affects the muscles of the human
body?
Explain on a cellular level how the
poliovirus affects the muscles of the
human body?
When the diaphragm muscle contracts, its
position in the body is lowered. In contrast,
when the external intercostal muscles of the
ribs contract, they become elevated. Both of
these muscle contractions create more volume
in the thoracic cavity. The resultant decree in
the pressure within the thoracic cavity causes
air to move from the body’s exterior (where
there is higher pressure) in to the lowerpressure area of the thoracic cavity. Thus,
inspiration occurs as the lungs fill with air.
Relaxing of the muscle returns them to their
original positions, and exhaling forces air out.
Given the information about the mechanics of
inspiration, how might the calcium leakage into
the sarcomeres (as occurs following death) of
diaphragm muscle tissue explain the
phenomenon of a corpse making a “moaning”
sound?
An accident victim not wearing a
seatbelt was thrown from a vehicle
and pronounced dead at the scene.
The autopsy reveals the cause of
death to be spinal cord injury
resulting in paralysis of the phrenic
and intercostal nerves. Why is this
particular injury fatal?
Gregor, who works at a pesticide
factory, comes to the clinic
complaining of muscle spasms that
interfere with his movement and
breathing. A blood test shows that he
has become contaminated with
organophosphate pesticide.
The
doctor states that this type of
pesticide is an acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor. How would you explain to
Gregor what this means?
Lynn has been waking up each night
with intense pain in her calves. She
does not feel that it is serious enough
to seek medical attention but would
like to know what is causing the
pain… What would you tell her
concerning this problem? She has
been playing tennis all summer for
several ours each day. Could this
have anything to do with the night
pain?
Jenna was running in the halfmarathon last Saturday without
much training and her muscles
became very sore about 10 miles into
the run. She pushed through the pain
and finished the race. That pain
quickly subsided after the race, but
then the next morning she awoke
very stiff and sore. Explain what
caused the pain in her legs during the
race
and
then
explain
the
soreness/stiffness the next morning.
Aaron arrived at the hospital with the
following symptoms:
drooping
eyelids, fatigue and weakness of his
muscles; and difficulty breathing and
swallowing. What was his diagnosis?
An individual who has been on a diet
that eliminates dairy products
complains of muscular spasms and
nervousness. Specifically, why might
these symptoms result from such a
low-calcium diet?