Neuromuscular Junction Flashcards
Components Neuromuscular Junction
Lower motor neuron
Muscle fibre
Regions of NMJ
Presynaptic region
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic region
What is a motor unit
One motor neuron, axon, presynaptic termini, muscle fibres
One motor neuron and all the fibres it innervates
What is the innervation ratio
Number of muscle fibres supplied by one motor neuron
Large innervation ratio- large motor unit
How are motor units recruited
As needed- small first
- diff threshold activation
Steps for action potential propagation between neurons
- Neurotransmitter synthesized and packaged into vesicles
- Action potential arrives at presynaptic terminal
- Voltage gated Ca channels open. Ca enters
4.rise in Ca triggers fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane - Neurotransmitter diffuse across synaptic cleft and bind to specific receptors on postsynaptic cell
- Bound receptors activate postsynaptic cell
7.neurotransmitter breaks down, is taken back up by presynaptic terminal or other cells, or diffuses away from the synapse
Note: axon terminus unmyelinated
Function presynaptic termini
Synthesis, storage and release of ACh
Stored in synaptic vesicles
How is ACh made
Choline and acetyl-CoA
Enzyme: choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)
How much ACh can one vesicle store
Quantum 6,000-10,000
“quantal release of ACh”
Where are vesicles stored
Immediate or secondary storage areas
What type of Ca channel is on presynaptic membrane
P-type Ca channel
Where can vesicles fuse (dock) at presynaptic membrane
Specific sites called active zones
What steps must happens to vesicle before fusion with presynaptic memrbane
Primed, Cocked, armed
Involves 25 proteins
What is the kiss and run mechanism
Recycles vesicles for reloading and reuse
Kiss- slight connection
Run- back into presynaptic neuron. Vesicle doesnt become part of membrane stays whole
What compounds are used in the docking phase of synaptic release and what is their function
v-SNARE= synaptobrevin
t-SNARES= syntaxin, SNAP-25
Form a zippered complex bringing the vesicle and target into proximity
What primes the complex after docked stage
Complexin
Explain the details of kiss phase
Ca enters and binds to synaptotagmin
Ca-synaptotagmin displaces complexin and binds the SNARE complex causing pore formstion (kiss) followed by release
Role of v-SNARES and t-SNARES with synaptic release
Form zippered complex bringing vesicle and target close together