COMPARING SYNAPSES AND NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS

• SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SYNAPSES AND NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS?

  • have neurotransmitters transported by diffusion
  • have receptors (that when neurotransmitters bind cause influx of Na+)
  • use sodium-potassium pump to repolarise axon
  • use enzymes to break down neurotransmitter
• DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SYNAPSES AND NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS?

  NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

  • only excitatory
  • links neurones to muscles
  • only involves motor neurones
  • action potential ends here
  • ACh binds to receptors on sarcolemma (membrane of muscle fibre)

  SYNAPSE

  • excitatory or inhibitory
  • links neurones together/ neurones to effector organs
  • involves sensory, relay or motor neurones
  • new action potential may be produced
  • ACh binds to receptors on membrane of postsynaptic neurone