Musculoskeletal System | Neuromuscular Junction | Neuromuscular Transmission: Part 1

Official Ninja Nerd Website: https://ninjanerd.org Ninja Nerds! In this lecture, Professor Zach Murphy will present part 1 on the neuromuscular junction and neuromuscular transmission. We begin by breaking down the structural anatomy of the neuromuscular junction, including the motor neuron terminal, synaptic cleft, and motor end plate of the muscle fiber. You will learn how an action potential travels down the motor neuron and triggers the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels. This leads to synaptic vesicles' fusion and acetylcholine (ACh) release into the synaptic cleft. We then examine the binding of ACh to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate, resulting in sodium influx and the generation of an end-plate potential. This discussion highlights the importance of acetylcholinesterase in breaking down ACh, preventing continuous muscle fiber stimulation. The lecture also emphasizes the role of safety factors at the neuromuscular junction, ensuring that each neuronal signal produces a muscle action potential under normal physiological conditions. Finally, we connect these molecular and cellular mechanisms to their role in initiating muscle contraction through excitation-contraction coupling. Enjoy the lecture and support us below! 🌐 Official Links Website: https://www.ninjanerd.org Podcast: https://podcast.ninjanerd.org Store: https://merch.ninjanerd.org 📱 Social Media   / ninjanerdlectures     / ninjanerdlectures     / ninjanerdlectures   https://x.com/ninjanerdsci/   / ninja-nerd   💬 Join Our Community Discord:   / discord   #ninjanerd #NMJ #Musculoskeletal