Muscles: The Neuromuscular Junction Part 1

Question 1

2. What is the purpose of the subneural clefts?

Answer 1

to increase surface area of post synaptic area, allowing more receptors for the neurotransmitter to bind to.

Question 2

Outline what happens in neurotransmission (when an action potential in a pre synaptic neurone generates an action potential in a post synaptic neurone

Answer 2

1. action potential arrives at axon terminal
2. voltage gated Ca2+ channels open
3. Ca2+ enters the presynaptic neurone
4. Ca2+ signals to neurotransmitter vesicles
5. Vesicles move to the membrane and dock
6. neurotransmitter released via exocytosis
7. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors
8. Signal initiated in postsynaptic cell