Reference no: EM133319880

The local anesthetics your dentist uses such as lidocaine work by blocking voltage-gated Na+ channels from opening. Explain why this is effective in preventing the transmission of pain. Include a description of how Na+ and K+ channels normally function at all the points along the action potential graph (and the reason those channels open when they do). Does lidocaine block sensation or perception? Explain. Why is it not a good idea to give a large systemic (whole body) dose of lidocaine? Finally, what if a patient had a genetic mutation that prevented lidocaine from binding to their voltage-gated Na+ channels, but it did block their mechanically-gated Na+ channels; would it still work for this patient? What if it blocked chemically-gated receptors?