Bacterial Effects on the Body
Some bacteria produce a toxin that causes a flaccid paralysis, while other bacteria produce a toxin that causes all of the skeletal muscles to contract at the same time. In understanding these effects that such bacteria can have on the human body, one can begin to fully understand the root causes of these bacterial toxins as well as the full extent to which these toxins can cause damage. Additionally, in beginning to understand the processes and complexities of each bacterial effect on the body, one can begin to understand the processes used by the body to repair areas that are damaged, such as the peripheral neuron.
As mentioned, some bacteria produce a toxin that causes flaccid paralysis while others produce a toxin that causes all of the skeletal muscles to contract at the same time. In noting these facts, one can begin to ask the question of how these toxins cause their relative effects on the muscles. Toxins are understood to produce varying effects on the body, depending on their origin and composition, and essentially, all toxins are poisonous, having...
For one, when muscles are exerted, some toxins tend to build up, causing spasms. One such example would be the build-up of lactic acid, which is normally, over-time, filtered out of the muscles and out of the body entirely. However, sometimes muscles are too tight, and these acids and toxins are not fully released. Such an occurrence can cause other things to build up, like cellular debris, cellular wastes, viruses and bacteria. Additionally, toxins like Botulinum, one of the most poisonous biological substances known, causes muscle paralysis, and is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which has a severe effect on muscles upon contact (Nigam and Nigam, 2010, p.8).
Bacterial toxins have the capacity to destroy the peripheral neuron. For instance, one class of neurotoxins has the capacity to degenerate the structure of nerve cells, which can cause damage in the CNS or peripheral nerves (Schaumburg, 2007, p.1). In these cases, toxins not only attack nerve cells, but vigorously work to destroy…
