Lec 12: neuromuscular junction and communication

Question 1

Give some features of motor neurons (skeletal muscel)

Answer 1

can be somatic efferent neruros, alpha or gamma. largest diameter neurons in body, myelinated, high velocity signalling

Question 2

A single motor unit consists of…

Answer 2

a motor neuron and all of the muscle fibres it controls

Question 3

What is the motor neuron axon terminal also known as and what does it contain?

Answer 3

bouton, rich in acetylcholine filled vesicles

Question 4

what is the motor end plate

Answer 4

region of muscle fibre plasma membrane that lies directly under the termincal portion of motor neuron axon terminal, has nicotinic ACh receptors

Question 5

What is acetylcholine, how is it made, what does it do?

Answer 5

major neurotransmitter in peripheral nervous system and brain, it is synthesised from choline and acetyl co-enzyme A in the cytoplasm of synaptic terminals, upon release it binds ACh receptors or is broken down by acetylcholinesterase