Describe the muscle condition called tetanus. Is this a normal or a pathological event? If it is normal, what is the function? If it is pathological, what is the cause? The bacterium Clostridium tetani causes a disease called tetanus or lockjaw; you may have been vaccinated against tetanus, especially if you ever had hospital treatment for a skin wound. Speculate on whether or not the name of

Question

this disease is related to the muscle condition and why the disease can be fatal.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Tetanus is a state of maintained contraction that occurs as a result of increased frequency of stimulation by the nerve that does not allow enough time between twitches for the muscle to relax. Tetanus is a normal event, which allows a muscle to develop its maximal force. The bacterial disease results in maintained contraction that is similar in charter to the tetanus that can result from high frequency muscle stimulation. The disease is fatal if respiratory muscles are unable to relax because then breathing would stop.