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Article: Nervous System Overview
- Article from:
- World of Forensic Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Nervous System Overview
The knowledge of the structure and functioning of the nervous system can be very relevant to a forensic examination that seeks to determine the cause of an illness or death. For example, in cases where suspected drugs or
toxins
may have been used, a forensic scientist may be able to determine what compounds were used by the symptoms produced. Drugs including
barbiturates
can slow or cripple the transmission of nerve impulses, while
amphetamines
stimulate the nervous system by causing the excessive release of norepinephrine, which is involved in the transmission of the nerve impulses. The toxin produced by the bacterium
Clostridium botulinum
inhibits nerve ...