Download Neurotoxins and the Neuromuscular Junction

Name: ___________________________
Neurotoxins and the Neuromuscular Junction
In class:
Label the parts of the neuron: dendrites, cell body and axon.
Circle the part of the neuron that sends a signal to a muscle cell. Label this part.
How do neurons signal to muscles?
List 3 facts about each neurotoxin. (How are they the same? How are they different?)
Coral Snake Venom
Black Widow Spider Venom
1
Name: ___________________________
After class:
Today we learned about the neuromuscular junction. Let’s see what you remembered.
In the drawing, color the neuron’s
, the
, and the
different colors.
Circle the synapses. How many are
there? What is this special type of
synapse called?
What neurotransmitter does the neuron use to signal to the muscle?
Thinking question: You are a neuroscientist studying the neuromuscular junction and you
want to study the effects of neurotransmitters on different types of cells. You know which
neurotransmitter is used at the synapse between neurons and muscles, and you have a bottle
of that molecule.
What would happen if you added the neurotransmitter to neurons only?
What would happen if you add the neurotransmitter to muscle cells?
Now you decide to test the effect of coral snake venom on these experiments. If you add coral
snake venom to the neurons, then add neurotransmitter, what, if anything, happens? Is it the
same result as the first experiment on neurons?
Now you add coral snake venom to your muscle cells. Then, you add neurotransmitter. What,
if anything, happens? Is it the same result as the first experiment on muscle cells?
2