Events at the neuromuscular junction
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺
Na⁺
Na⁺
Na⁺
Na⁺
Na⁺
Na⁺
Action potential along
the sarcolemma
Choline
Acetic acid
Recycled
Presynaptic terminal
Synaptic vesicles (ACh)
Ca²⁺ channel (voltage-gated)
Synaptic cleft
ACh receptors
Acetylcholinesterase
Motor end-plate
Ca²⁺
Ca²⁺ (calcium)
Na⁺
Na⁺ (sodium)
Acetylcholine (ACh)
1
Action potential arrives
2
Calcium enters
3
Acetylcholine released
4
ACh binds receptors
5
Sodium in: muscle
action potential
6
ACh broken down
and recycled
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