Nervous System Lab Report

Caden Harris

Neurotoxins are toxins that are poisonous or destructive to nerve tissue. Certain toxins attack
the body in different ways. Table 1. The most common ways are the attacks on the receptors
or channels. The toxins block the receptors and prevent the receptors from receiving it.
Venoms can overstimulate neurons, causing muscle spasms and increased heart rate. Some
toxins cause the nerve impulse to be blocked, this causes muscle paralysis and a low heart
rate. Some inhibit the enzyme that breaks down the receptor complex, which also causes
overstimulation of that neural pathway. Neurotoxins block the nerve impulses. Nerve impulses
are a signal transmitted along a nerve. It consists of a wave of electrical waves that reverses
across the nerve cells membranes.
Animal brains are very similar to humans. They have many of the same structures and nerves,
that help the brain and the body function. Figure 1&2. The structures are all responsible for
different functions and different parts of the body. The structures are either responsible for
sending or receiving the message. Figure 3 The nerves play the same role with delivering or
receiving the message to and from the brain. Figure 4a-e The nerves and structures are
responsible for all the things you do. They affect the way you think, the way you move, and
many more things. The brain would be useless without the nerves and structures to signal
messages throughout the body.
The brain has connections to every part of the body. It is able to carry information to and from
these connections. The nervous system is responsible for transmitting signals between all parts
of the body. Nerves are what makes the receive and deliver messages. Each neuron sends a
neurotransmitter that delivers the message to the body. There are 12 major cranial nerves that
all do something different. Table 2. The cranial nerves send information to the brain, control
muscles, or connect glands or organs.
The nervous system has two different parts, the central nervous system(CNS) and peripheral
nervous system(PNS). The CNS contains the brain and the spinal cord, which work as the
command station. The CNS figures out what the information it has been sent means.
Everything else in nervous system is the PNS. The PNS contains the nerves which leave the
CNS and travel to certain areas of the body. The main job of the PNS is to send information
gathered by the bodys sensory receptors to the CNS as quickly as possible. The mink has
nerves and structures that run throughout its body and works just like a humans. The spinal
nerves carry motor sensory, and signals between the spinal cord and the body. The spinal
nerves in the mink work very similarly to the human body. Figure3, 4a-e. Each of these nerves
responds differently to different sensations. You are able to see this in your reflexes. Table 3.
The reflexes send signals along the sensory neurons to your spinal cord, where the signals are
passed on to a motor neuron. The reflexes are tested regularly to make sure the body is still
healthy.
The eye is one of the most important and complicated parts of the body. For the eye to see, it
must detect the light around you. The human eye reacts to light and pressure, which allow
vision. When we dissected the sheep, we located and removed eight different layers. Figure 5.
These eight layers allow the brain to pick up what the eye is looking at.
Table 1. Neurotoxin Table. Every venomous animal has different toxin that affects the body
differently.
Animal Toxin Description

Black Widow Spider Latrotoxin Enhances acetylcholine

release

Krait Bungarotoxin Blocks acetylcholine receptor

Blue-Ringed Octopus Tetrodotoxin Blocks sodium channels

Scorpion Charybdotoxin Blocks potassium receptors

Cone Snail Conotoxin One type of blocks

voltage-sensitive calcium
channels; one blocks
voltage-sensitive sodium
channels; one blocks ACh
receptors

Pufferfish Maculotoxin Blocks sodium channels

Bee Apamin Blocks potassium channels

- Mutant Gene Voltage-gated sodium

channel in nociceptive
neurons; injection of the gene
will produce channels that
are non-functional

- Sodium Channels with a The voltage sensitivity of the

different mutation sodium channel is altered, so
that it only opens at more
positive membrane potentials

- Orange Juice-Synthetic Toxin Destroy the myelin covering

the optic nerves and motor
neurons

- Batrachotoxin Causes voltage-gated

sodium channels to open at a
more negative membrane
potential and also prevents
their inactivation

- Dendrotoxin K Blocks your voltage-gated

potassium channels in no
time
 - General Anesthetic like Opens potassium channels in
Sevoflurane neurons of the reticular
formation in the brainstem

- Potassium Floods the brain with

extracellular potassium levels
ten times what it should be

Figure 1. Sheep Brain Structure. The sheep brain has 12 major structures, each plays a
different role in the body. Photo By: Caden Harris
Structure Function

Superior Colliculus Integrating center for eye movement

Pineal Gland Produce melatonin, helps maintain rhythm

and regulate reproductive hormones

Cerebellum Receives information from the sensory

systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of
the brain and regulates motor movements

Spinal Cord Connects a large part of the PNS to the brain

Medulla Oblongata Helps regulate breathing, heart and blood

vessel function, digestion, sneezing, and
swallowing

Pons Connects the upper and lower parts of the

brain

Cerebrum Deals with thought processes and movement.

The right side is creative and the left is logic
 function

Fourth Ventricle Protect the brain from trauma and help form
the central canal

Lateral Ventricle Provides cushioning for the brain while also

helping to circulate nutrients and remove
waste

Corpus Callosum Connects the left and right sides of the brain
allowing for communication between both
sides

Third Ventricle Helps protect the brain from injury and

transport nutrients and waste

Thalamus Correlate several important processes,

including consciousness, sleep, and sensory
interpretation

Figure 2. Sheep Brain. These nerves are responsible for sending signals to and from the brain.
Photo By: Savannah Kruse
Table 2. Cranial Nerve Assessment. We tested the Cranial Nerves using many different tests to
see if the nerve response was normal. The cranial nerves are use everyday to detect the world
around us.
Cranial Nerve Motor or Where does Test Results Assessment
Sensory the Nerve Performed of Tests of Nerve
or Both? Innervate? Function

Olfactory (I) Sensory Upper Nasal Smell +, + Normal

Cavity Pumpkin
Spice

Optic (II) Sensory Eyes to Brain Use Eye 20/20, Normal

Chart 20/20

Oculomotor (III) Motor Midbrain to Use Light +, + Normal

Eyes on Eyes

Trochlear (IV) Motor External Eye Follow Pen +, + Normal

Muscles

Trigeminal (V) Both Pons Gently +, +, + Normal

Touch 3
Divisions

Abducens (VI) Motor Pons near the Follow + Normal

Medulla Q-Tip
Oblongata

Facial (VII) Both Lower Part of Smiled and + Normal

the Pons Closed Eye
Tightly

Vestibulocochlear Sensory Medulla Tuning +, + Normal

(VIII) Oblongata Fork Walk
in a
Straight
Line

Glossopharyngeal Both Tongue Swallow + Normal

(IX) Pharynx
Medulla
Oblongata

Vagus (X) Both Medulla Swallow + Normal

Oblongata to
Neck into Chest
and Abdomen
 Accessory (XI) Motor Medulla Shrug +, + Normal
Oblongata Shoulder
Spinal Cord

Hypoglossal (XII) Motor Medulla Stick out + Normal

Oblongata Tongue

Figure 3. Mink Spinal Cord. The spinal cord gives nerves a base to send signals throughout the
body. Photo By: Caden Harris

Figure 4a. Mink Spinal Nerves. Abdomen Region. Photo By: Caden Harris
Figure 4b. Mink Spinal Nerves. Femoral Region. Photo By: Caden Harris

Figure 4c. Mink Spinal Nerves. Leg/Tibial Region. Photo By: Caden Harris
 Figure 4d. Mink Spinal Nerves. Upper Chest/Arm Photo By: Caden Harris

Figure 4e. Mink Spinal Nerves. Upper Chest Region. Photo By: Caden Harris
Table 3. Reflex Assessment. We performed many different tests to check our muscles reflexes,
all the tests were positive. All the reflexes test for a different location in the body.
Test Left Right Varying Conditions Tests For

Biceps + + Spot, Force, Angle C5-C6

Triceps + + Force C7-C8

Brachioradialis + + Not Relaxed C5-C6

Hoffmanns + + Amount of Movement Pyramidal Tract

Lesions

Patellar + + Lots of Movement L2-L4

Achilles + + Angle, Lots of S1-S2

Movement

Babinski + + Area of Movement S1-S2, L4

Crossed Extensor + + Area of Tapping Cross Reflexes

C5-C6

Glabellar + + Area of Tapping C1-C2

Abdominal T8-T12
Figure 5. Sheep Eye. The sheep eye is made up of eight different layer, it must go through
eight different layers before the brain pick up what it is looking at. Photo By: Caden Harris