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How nicotine builds dependence
Age 12 · Biology
Open to everyone until Sunday, November 15
To keep it, print it while it is open.
Nicotine from smoke passes through the lungs into the blood and reaches the brain within seconds. Brain cells react by growing more receptors, so they need more nicotine to feel the same effect and the craving grows.
In the picture
- Air sac in the lung: nicotine slips into the blood vessel
- Blood vessel: carries nicotine up to the brain
- Neuron with few receptors: each one is filled with nicotine
- Neuron with many receptors: most are empty, so it craves more nicotine
Examples
- A person who first felt dizzy from one cigarette later needs several to feel anything.
- Feeling irritable and restless a few hours after the last cigarette.
Key takeaways
- Nicotine reaches the brain within seconds of being inhaled.
- More receptors means a bigger craving, and that is how dependence builds.
Quiz: How nicotine builds dependence (Age 12)
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How quickly does nicotine from smoke reach the brain?
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How do brain cells react to nicotine over time?
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What happens in a neuron that has many receptors, most of them empty?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This quiz is free there while the lesson is in the free week.
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