The waysby which the neurotoxin of the snake’s venom affects the ability of the nervous system to stimulate the contraction of skeletal muscles and the ability of fibers of skeletal muscles to respond to stimulation. Introduction: A potent neurotoxin is present in the venom of several cobras. This venom binds to the ligand-gated sodium channels and leads to the opening of these channels.

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Chapter 11, Problem 9CT

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The waysby which the neurotoxin of the snake’s venom affects the ability of the nervous system to stimulate the contraction of skeletal muscles and the ability of fibers of skeletal muscles to respond to stimulation.

Introduction:

A potent neurotoxin is present in the venom of several cobras. This venom binds to the ligand-gated sodium channels and leads to the opening of these channels.

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The venom of many cobras contains a potent neurotoxin that binds to ligand-gated Na+ channels,causing them to open. Unlike ACh, which binds to and then rapidly unbinds from ligand-gated Na+ channels, the neurotoxin tends to remain bound to ligand-gated Na+ channels. How does this neurotoxin affect the nervous system’s ability to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction? How does it affect the ability of skeletal muscle fibers to respond to stimulation?

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