Many chemical warfare agents, such as the poisonous gas sarin, block the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in the synaptic cleft. What effects will this poison have on muscle contraction? (Connects to Chapter 10) What effects will it have on the autonomic nervous system? What symptoms would you expect to see from this poison?

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question. Together. Anticholinergic drugs possess the capability to impede the activity of acetylcholine. Which of the following states the effect of anticholinergic drugs on the parasympathetic nervous system. Is it answer choice? A, they block the muscarinic receptors. Answer choice B, they block the adrenergic receptors. Answer choice C, they activate nicotinic receptors or answer choice D all of the above. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices best explains the effect of anticholinergic drugs on the parasympathetic nervous system. So, in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about the para sympathy pathetic nervous system, specifically the role of aceto choline in the parasympathetic nervous system to identify which of the following answer. Choices best explains how the anticholinergic drugs impede the activity of acetylcholine on the parasympathetic nervous system. And since we are talking about impeding the activity of acetylcholine in the parasympathetic nervous system, we can recall that in the parasympathetic nervous system, the acetylcholine receptors are the muscarinic receptors. Therefore, in order for the anticholinergic drugs to impede the activity of acetylcholine the anticholinergic drugs must block the muscarinic receptors in order to reduce acetylcholine activity. So looking at our answer choices, we can identify answer choice. A as the correct answer. Since those anticholinergic drugs block the muscarinic receptors on the parasympathetic nervous system, impeding the activity of acetylcholine and all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.