The neuromuscular junction is a type of junction or synapse where neurons and muscles meet. In other words, it is the point where neural signals from the brain or the spinal cord interact with muscle cells. An action potential in the neuron produces an action potential in the muscle cell when neurotransmitters are released from the neurons and bind to receptors on muscle cells.
When you blink your eyes, pick up a pen or even read this sentence, different muscle groups in your body are contracting and relaxing, based on the neural signals they recieve from your brain. The point where these signals go from your neurons to your muscle is called the neuromuscular junction.
The neuromuscular junction is made up of three parts: the synaptic end bulb , synaptic cleft and the motor end plate. The synaptic end bulb is the nervous system component of the neuromuscular junction, while the motor end plate is the muscular component. The synaptic cleft is the synapse or space.
When an electric signal traveling down the neuron reaches the synaptic bulb end, it is converted into a neurotransmitter called Acetylcholine or ACh. The ACh travels accross the synaptic cleft to the motor end plate. The motor end plate contains about 30 to 40 million acetylcholine receptors. When these receptors bind to ACh, it is converted back to electrical signals, which cause the muscle to contract. After contraction, an enzyme, acetylcholinesterase breaks down ACh into acetyl and choline, which causes the muscle to relax. That's how an action potential in the neuron produces an action potential in the muscle cell.
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