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neuromuscular junction
neuromuscular junction The point where a muscle fibre comes into contact with a motor neuron carrying nerve impulses from the central nervous system. The impulses travel from the neuron to the muscle fibre by means of a neurotransmitter, in a similar way to the transmission of impulses across a synapse between two neurons. The neurotransmitter is released from vesicles at the end of the motor neuron into a small gap (the cleft), where it diffuses to the end plate of the muscle fibre and depolarizes the membrane. When depolarization has reached a certain threshold an action potential is triggered in the muscle fibre.
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"neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-neuromuscularjunction.html "neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-neuromuscularjunction.html |
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neuromuscular junction
neuromuscular junction (myoneural junction) (newr-oh-mus-kew-ler) n. the meeting point of a motor nerve fibre and the muscle fibre that it supplies. It consists of a minute gap across which a neurotransmitter must diffuse from the nerve to trigger contraction of the muscle.
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"neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-neuromuscularjunction.html "neuromuscular junction." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-neuromuscularjunction.html |
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