1. Includes synaptic terminals of a motor neuron directly opposed to the motor-end plate, which respond to the transmitter released by the neuron

2. There is only one NMJ per muscle fiber, but many synaptic boutons in each NMJ

Specialized regions of the muscle cell immediately adjacent to the synaptic boutons that contains a concentrated number of ligand-gated receptors

Involves proteins, v-SNARE and t-SNARE that fuse transmitter-filled vesicles to pre-synaptic membrane

A membrane-associated protein that degrades ACh into acetic acid and choline

Choline is taken back up into nerve terminal by choline transporter in plasma membrane

Acetylates the choline using acetyl CoA to form ACh, which is actively taken up into the synaptic vesicles  by vesicular transporter

1. Nicotinic-agonist is nicotine

2. ACh binds to the AChR, which is an ion channel that opens when 2 ACh molecules are bound

3. Non-selective cation channel permeable to both Na+ and K+

1. Influx of Na+ after opening off AChR, creating a postsynaptic potential change in the muscle cell (Ohm's Law)

2. EPP is always depolarizing, adn of sufficient amplitude to activate the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels in the muscle membrane

3. Every time a motor neuron fires an AP, the muscle fiber it's connected to via NMJ also fires an AP and causes muscle contraction

4. EPP is a passive potential that decays with distance from NMJ at a rate dependent on length constant

AP generated in muscle cell at NMJ spreads rapidly at full amplitude to both ends of the muscle and through the t-tubule system to activate calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to initiate muscle contraction

An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies are made to the AChR, such that when these bind to the AChR, ACh can't bind

Autoimmune antibodes bind and block the presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels, such that a decrease in the Ca++ that enters when the AP invades the terminal means fewer vesicles filled with ACh fuse and release their contents

Secreted by bacteria and disrupt the function of SNARE proteins and prevent vesicle fusion