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Neuromuscular Junction

When an action potential arrives at a neuromuscular junction it stimulates calcium ion channels to open. Calcium ions diffuse from the synapse into the synaptic knob. This causes vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release acetylcholine. Acetylcholine binds to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane opening sodium channels. The influx of sodium ions causes depolarisation of the sarcolemma.

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Specification: AQA Biology (7402), A-level, 3.6.3 Skeletal muscles are stimulated to contract by nerves and act as. Topic: Muscles.

Key terms in this lesson

ATP synthase
An enzyme that spans a membrane and synthesises ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate as protons flow through it down their concentration gradient.
ATP
Adenosine triphosphate, the universal energy currency of cells, formed by adding an inorganic phosphate to ADP and hydrolysed to release energy for cellular reactions.
chemiosmosis
The synthesis of ATP by ATP synthase, driven by the flow of protons down their concentration gradient across a membrane.

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