All flashcards topics

Drugs and synaptic transmissionEdexcel International A Level Biology: Flashcards

What these 12 flashcards ask

  • How does nicotine affect a cholinergic synapse?
  • Why is nicotine's effect prolonged?
  • How does cobra venom alpha toxin cause paralysis?
  • Why can alpha toxin cause death?
  • What is lidocaine?
  • How does lidocaine stop pain?
  • What causes Parkinson's disease?
  • What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
  • Why is L-DOPA given instead of dopamine?
  • Why does L-DOPA become less effective over time?
  • What two effects does MDMA have at serotonin synapses?
  • Why can MDMA cause low mood afterwards?

Exam questions on Drugs and synaptic transmission

  1. A dentist injects lidocaine into a patient's gum before removing a tooth. The patient feels pressure but no pain, and the numbness fades after about an hour.
    Explain, in terms of membrane potential, why the sensory neurones near the injection fail to transmit impulses.2 marks
  2. A hiker is bitten by a cobra. Within an hour she has muscle weakness that progresses to paralysis, and she has difficulty breathing. The venom contains alpha toxin, which acts at neuromuscular junctions.
    Explain why the hiker has difficulty breathing.2 marks
  3. A 68-year-old man with Parkinson's disease has a tremor, stiff muscles and slow movement. His neurologist prescribes L-DOPA for him rather than dopamine.
    Explain why L-DOPA is prescribed rather than dopamine.3 marks
See the full worksheet

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).