A&P The 7 Steps @ Neuromuscular Junction

7) ACH is broken down by

acetylcholine esterase

6) If the muscle reaches the threshold (-55mv) at the motor end plate

an AP occurs on the muscle

5) ACH binding opens ion channels

and Sodium rushes into the muscles

4) ACH diffuses across the synaptic cleft

and binds to it's receptors on the muscle

2) Electrical gated calcium channels open

and calcium enters the axon terminal

3) Calcium causes the vesicles to

release ACH into the synaptic cleft

1) An AP travels down the axon

to the axon terminal