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Tetanus is a disease caused by a type of bacteria - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 14 - 2023
Question 14
Tetanus is a disease caused by a type of bacteria. Tetanus bacteria live in soil and enter the body from the soil through wounds in the skin. (a) State the term tha... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Tetanus is a disease caused by a type of bacteria - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 14 - 2023
Step 1
Step 2
Describe how phagocytes destroy bacteria.
Answer
Phagocytes destroy bacteria through a process called phagocytosis. They engulf the bacteria by enclosing them in a vacuole. Once inside the vacuole, lysosomes within the phagocyte release enzymes that digest and break down the bacteria, effectively destroying them.
Step 3
Step 4
Suggest why binding of this toxin to pre-synaptic membranes would decrease the transmission of impulses to muscle fibres.
Answer
Binding of the toxin to pre-synaptic membranes would decrease the transmission of impulses to muscle fibres by preventing or reducing the release of neurotransmitters. This interruption would hinder the communication between neurons and muscle fibres, leading to impaired muscle contraction.
Step 5
Explain why herd immunity would not protect unvaccinated individuals against tetanus.
Answer
Herd immunity relies on a significant portion of the population being immune to a disease, typically through vaccination, which helps prevent its spread. However, tetanus is not spread from person to person; it is contracted from contaminated soil or objects. Therefore, unvaccinated individuals remain at risk regardless of the immunity in the surrounding population.