You have a large garden with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and you have a problem with insects eating them. You decide to use Malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, but you are not terribly careful about protecting yourself as you are spraying. Worried, you decide to look up the action of Malathion and find that it is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Explain how this chemical affects muscle contraction and include where it has its effect and why.

What will be an ideal response?


AChE is the enzyme that splits up acetylcholine or ACH. ACH is the neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction. If ACHE, or acetylcholinesterase, is blocked by the insecticide, it will no longer be at the synapse to break down ACH. The continued presence of ACH then causes continuous contractions until the muscle fatigues.

Anatomy & Physiology

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Anatomy & Physiology

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Anatomy & Physiology