Nicotine

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nicotine

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical structure?C10H14N2 (a heterocyclic aromatic amine)
2. What is the primary receptor target?Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central and peripheral nervous systems
3. Why does nicotine make people feel addicted?When nicotine reaches the brain, it attaches to special receptors and causes a quick release of dopamine, the brain's reward chemical, which makes people want to use it again.
4. How does nicotine affect the brain and body?In the brain it can make people feel more alert and help with attention, but it also raises heart rate and blood pressure in the body.

Alkaloid: A class of naturally occurring organic compounds that contain nitrogen atoms, often exhibiting pharmacological activity.
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs): Ionotropic receptors that are activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and are the primary targets of nicotine.
Mesolimbic Pathway: A crucial neural circuit involved in reward, motivation, and pleasure, heavily implicated in addiction.