A 46-year-old man arrives at the emergency department after experiencing increased blurry vision, trouble swallowing, and dry mouth throughout the previous hour. He also experiences nausea and stomach discomfort, but no headache or fever. The patient has no past medical history and is not on any drugs. He smokes one pack of cigarettes every day but does not use alcohol or illegal substances. The patient hasn't traveled recently, although he did go to a community gathering yesterday and tried home-canned dishes. A physical examination reveals bilateral ptosis and a slow pupillary response. Which of the following neuromuscular transmission processes is most likely to be impaired in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Botulinum toxin inhibits presynaptic exocytosis of ACh vesicles, resulting in poor muscarinic and nicotinic neurotransmission; it often appears as a symmetric, descending paralysis that begins with cranial nerve anomalies, frequently after intake of home-canned foods.

A 46-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Emergency Department After Experiencing