A Child Ingested an Organophosphate Poison Used to Kill Insects

question 163

Multiple Choice

A child ingested an organophosphate poison used to kill insects. Soon the child's muscles began spastic contractions. Predict what occurred at the synaptic cleft.

• A) Decreased release of acetylcholine from presynaptic neurons
• B) Increased accumulation of acetylcholine in the synapse
• C) Binding of the poison to acetylcholine receptors leading to inhibition of stimulation
• D) Increased breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft
• E) Both increased accumulation of acetylcholine in the synapse and increased breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft are correct.

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Definitions:

Surface Tension

The cohesive force at the surface of a fluid that causes it to behave as an elastic sheet, minimizing its surface area.

Body Fluids

Liquids that are found within the bodies of living organisms, including blood, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Buffer

A chemical substance that helps maintain a stable pH in a solution by neutralizing small amounts of added acid or base.

pH

A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, with low values indicating acidity and high values, basicity.