neuromuscular junction

neuromuscular junction
neuromuscular junction n the junction of an efferent nerve fiber and the muscle fiber plasma membrane called also myoneural junction

* * *

the meeting point of a nerve fibre and the muscle fibre that it supplies. Between the enlarged end of the nerve fibre (motor end-plate) and the membrane of the muscle is a gap across which a neurotransmitter must diffuse from the nerve to trigger contraction of the muscle.

* * *

the site of apposition of a motor end plate and the subneural cleft of the skeletal muscle fiber that it innervates. After the nerve is excited, the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released from the axon terminal when the nerve is excited, diffuses across the synaptic cleft, and reversibly binds to receptor molecules on the muscle fiber surface, causing the initiation of an action potential that propagates along the muscle fiber and causes it to contract. Called also myoneural j.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Neuromuscular junction — Electron micrograph showing a cross section through the neuromuscular junction. T is the axon terminal, M is the muscle fiber. The arrow shows junctional folds …   Wikipedia

  • neuromuscular junction — ▪ biochemistry also called  myoneural junction        site of chemical communication between a fibre and a muscle cell. The neuromuscular junction is analogous to the synapse between two neurons (neuron). A nerve fibre divides into many terminal… …   Universalium

  • Neuromuscular junction disease — Classification and external resources MeSH D020511 Neuromuscular junction disease is a medical condition where the normal conduction through the neuromuscular junction fails to function correctly. Autoimmune …   Wikipedia

  • neuromuscular junction — noun the junction between a nerve fiber and the muscle it supplies • Syn: ↑myoneural junction • Hypernyms: ↑synapse …   Useful english dictionary

  • neuromuscular junction — myoneural junction the meeting point of a nerve fibre and the muscle fibre that it supplies. Between the enlarged end of the nerve fibre (motor end plate) and the membrane of the muscle is a gap across which a neurotransmitter must diffuse from… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • neuromuscular junction — A chemical synapse between a motoneuron and a muscle fibre. Also known as a motor end plate …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • neuromuscular junction — noun The synapse of the axon terminal of a motoneuron with muscle …   Wiktionary

  • Neuromuscular disease — Classification and external resources MeSH D009468 Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that either directly, via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly, via nerve pathology, impair the …   Wikipedia

  • disease of the neuromuscular junction — noun a disease characterized by impairment of neuromuscular junctions • Hypernyms: ↑disease • Hyponyms: ↑myasthenia gravis, ↑myasthenia, ↑Lambert Eaton syndrome, ↑Eaton Lambert syndrome, ↑myasthenic syndrome, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Neuromuscular-blocking drug — Global view of a neuromuscular junction: 1. Axon 2. Motor end plate 3. Muscle fiber 4. Myofibril …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”