Neuro Muscular Junction and Transmission; Guyton and hall Physiology

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle fiber. When an action potential reaches the nerve terminal, acetylcholine (ACh) is released into the synaptic cleft. ACh binds to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate, causing depolarization and generation of a muscle action potential. This triggers calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, initiating skeletal muscle contraction.