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Communication and homeostasis

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Question 3

Autoimmune neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), involve immune-mediated damage to the myelin sheath of neurones.

a.

Describe how the body's immune system mistakenly initiates and executes an attack on the myelin sheath or oligodendrocytes.

[3]
b.

Describe how myelination normally increases the speed of action potential conduction along an axon, and explain why demyelination leads to a significantly reduced conduction velocity.

[4]
c.

Suggest and describe how a reduced frequency of action potentials reaching the presynaptic membrane of a neuromuscular junction (NMJ) affects chemical transmission and muscle contraction.

[4]

Communication and homeostasis Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Biology
  3. /Communication and homeostasis