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