Biology II - Muscular System: Neuromuscular Junction Steps

Biology II

neuromuscular junction

where a motor neuron and skeletal muscle fiber communicate

how many steps are in the neuromuscular junction

9

step 1

the brain decides to contract a skeletal muscle

step 2

motor neurons carry the action potential down the spinal cord to the skeletal muscle

step 3

the action potential arrives at the neuromuscular junction

step 4

the action potential causes the axon terminal to release ACh

step 5

ACh binds to receptors on the sarcolemma

step 6

the binding causes the action potential to travel down the sarcolemma

step 7

the action potential travels down the tubules

step 8

sarcoplasmic reticulum is stimulated by the action potential and releases Ca+2

step 9

Ca+2 triggers the muscle fiber to contract