Chapter 11 – OVERVIEW OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AND DRUGS AFFECTING CHOLINERGIC TRANSMISSION

Question 1

Mrs BC, a 54-year-old woman, works as a machinist at the local clothing factory. Recently, she was diagnosed with chronic open-angle glaucoma. A number of eye drops were tried with limited success and the ophthalmologist finally prescribes pilocarpine (1%) eye-drops, one drop 4 times a daily.

Answer 1

Mrs BC, a 54-year-old woman, works as a machinist at the local clothing factory. Recently, she was diagnosed with chronic open-angle glaucoma. A number of eye drops were tried with limited success and the ophthalmologist finally prescribes pilocarpine (1%) eye-drops, one drop 4 times a daily.

Question 2

Discuss the parasympathetic innervation of the eye

Answer 2

• The sphincter muscle is parasympathetic innervated and the ciliary muscle is innervated also.
-parasympthathetic nerve impulse cause the circular muscles to contract, the radial muscles to relax and the pupils to constrict = less light enters the eye

Question 3

Explain why the ophthalmologist has prescribed pilocarpine

Answer 3

Pilocarpine drops are a direct-acting miotic. It works by lowering the fluid pressure inside the eyeball by increasing fluid drainage from the eyeball. It also causes the pupils to constrict or get smaller (miosis).

Question 4

Explain why Mrs BC has developed blurred vision

Answer 4

Due to Mrs BC is experiencing a side effect produced from taking Pilocarpine causing the blurred vision due to the change in her accommodation of her eyes.