A 5-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department because of weakness and spasms for the past 12 hours. His mother states that he has also had difficulty feeding and opening his mouth. He has not had fever, cough, diarrhea, or vomiting. His jaw muscles are tight. Examination shows generalized muscle stiffness and twitches. He has a history of an accidentally cut his right forearm last week while working with his mother's embroidery scissors. Release of which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely to be directly impaired in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Tetanospasmin is a neuro-exotoxin released by Clostridium tetani.  The toxin blocks the release of glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from the spinal inhibitory interneurons that regulate the lower motor neurons.  These disinhibited motor neurons cause increased activation of muscles, leading to spasms and hyperreflexia.

A 5-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department Because