Tetanus

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/tetanus

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 scientific name?Clostridium tetani
2. What is the habitat?Anaerobic environments, including soil, dust, and animal feces; exists as resistant spores
3. What causes tetanus to make muscles stiff?The bacteria Clostridium tetani releases a toxin that blocks signals that normally calm muscles, causing them to stay tight and spasm.
4. How do people get infected with tetanus?The spores live in soil and dirt and can get into the body when a cut or puncture wound goes deep, especially if the wound is dirty and low in oxygen.

Obligate Anaerobe: An organism that requires an oxygen-free environment to grow and survive.
Neurotoxin: A toxin that specifically targets and damages nerve tissue, disrupting normal nerve function.
Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG): An injection containing antibodies that provide immediate, temporary protection against tetanus toxin.
Trismus: The medical term for lockjaw, characterized by difficulty opening the mouth due to muscle spasm.