Neuromuscular Junction

Neuromuscular junction

Synapse between a somatic motor neuron and skeletal muscle fiber, called neuromuscular junction (NMJ).

Axon of motor neuron is divided in many branches, each branch of axon end attach to the muscle membrane (sarcolemma). This region of sarcolemma where axon terminal is embedded, known as the motor end plate.

 
Each branch of a somatic motor neuron form a junction with the skeletal muscle fiber.

Axon terminal 

Axon part of nerve fibers divided into several branches, end of a single axon branch, known as axon terminal.

Motor end plate

A single branch of axon terminal is embedded at muscle membrane. Bulb like expansion of axon terminal is occurs at sarcolemma. 

Presynaptic membrane 

Membrane of nerve ending.

Postsynaptic membrane 

Membrane of muscle fiber.

Synaptic cleft

Space between postsynaptic and presynaptic membrane.

Transfer of information from motor nerve ending to muscle fiber through Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) to initiate muscle contraction.

A nerve fiber arise from spinal cord that end attach to a muscle fiber. That point where nerve fiber attach to the muscle fiber, make a junction called Neuromuscular junction
(NMJ). 

Gap between the end of neuron and muscle fibers or Junction or synapse between terminal branch of nerve fibers and muscle fiber, called neuromuscular junction. 

Neuromuscular transmission

A nerve action potential (nerve impulse) elicits muscle action potential in the following way :

1. Release of acetylcholine.
2. Activation of Ach receptors.
3. Production of muscle action potential.