How Sarin affects the nervous system

1 Electrical impulses fire

Electrical impulses in the nervous system trigger the release of a chemical called ACh

Nerve cell

Electrical

impulse

ACh

released

2 Normal muscle function

ACh is broken down by enzymes, stopping muscles becoming over-stimulated and creating impulses which are turned into movements

Enzyme

Presynaptic

cells

ACh

Impulse

created in

muscle

ACh broken

down

3 Sarin’s effects

The enzyme is blocked by sarin molecules and levels of ACh increase. Muscles become over-stimulated and the victim rapidly loses control of vital functions

Sarin molecules

Presynaptic

cells

ACh

Muscle

becomes

over-

stimulated

1 Electrical impulses fire

Electrical impulses in the nervous system trigger the release of a chemical called ACh

2 Normal muscle function

ACh is broken down by enzymes, stopping muscles becoming over-stimulated and creating impulses which are turned into movements

Enzyme

Presynaptic

cells

Nerve cell

ACh

Impulse

created in

muscle

ACh broken

down

Electrical

impulse

3 Sarin’s effects

The enzyme is blocked by sarin molecules and levels of ACh increase. Muscles become over-stimulated and the victim rapidly loses control of vital functions

ACh

released

Sarin molecules

Presynaptic

cells

ACh

Muscle

becomes

over-

stimulated