Based on the principle that specialized proteins on a neuron's surface interact with chemical messengers like a lock and key, provide the most likely explanation for why the new medication described in the case study is causing unintended side effects.

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Neuronal receptors are specialized proteins located on a neuron's cell surface, typically on the dendrites, where neurotransmitters attach. The shape of each receptor is specific, allowing it to bind only with particular neurotransmitters, functioning like a lock that only a specific key can open.

Neuronal Receptors

Drug Specificity and Side Effects

When a neuron receives signals at its dendrites, typically from neurotransmitters released by an adjacent neuron binding to its receptors, small pores or gates open on the neuronal membrane. This event allows sodium (Na+) ions, propelled by both charge and concentration differences, to flow into the cell. With this influx of positive ions, the cell's internal charge becomes more positive.

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