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Basic Sciences

Tutorial 20

Physiology of the Neuromuscular Junction

Dr Clare Ackroyd, Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

Dr C Gwinnutt, Consultant Anaesthetist, Hope Hospital, Salford

7th JUNE 2005

Abstract

The transmitter at the neuromuscular juntion is acetylcholine, which is synthesised from acetyl- coenzyme A and choline, stored in vesicles and released in response to a nerve stimulus.

The acetylcholine receptor is made of 5 subunits and acts as a cation channel causing depolarisation at the motor end plate.

The acetylcholine receptor acts as an amplifier and a switch.

Acetylcholine is broken down to choline and acetate, catalysed by acetylcholinesterase.

The neuromuscular junction is so vital to life that everything is done to excess, excess transmitter release, excess receptor numbers and an excessive post-synaptic potential to ensure transmission of the stimulus and skeletal muscle contraction.

creative commons

This work by WFSA is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/