how neurons communicate with muscle fibres
Step 1
Action potential (nerve impulse) arrives at the axon terminal
Step 2
Calcium channels open up and allows calcium ions from the outside to enter the axon terminal
Step 3
Increased calcium ions on the inside cause the synaptic vesicles to move towards the end of the axon terminal
Step 4
Synaptic vesicles fuse with the membrane and release acetylcholine (Ach) into the synaptic cleft
Step 5
Ach travels across synaptic cleft towards the muscle fibre and binds to the receptors
Step 6
A response is triggered in the muscle fibre & it generates its own action potential
Step 7
The action potential travels through the muscle fibre
Step 8
Ach cannot remain in the synaptic cleft; an enzyme called AchE breaks down Ach
Slow twitch fibres
More for endurance, long lasting energy
Fast twitch fibres
more for sudden bursts of energy but gets tired quickly
Aerobic
Process that requires oxygen
Anaerobic
Process that does not require oxygen