Let’s delve into how the brain and nervous system work together to control muscles:
0.1 Neurons and Motor Pathways:
- Neurons carry messages between the brain and muscles via the spinal cord.
- Outgoing signals travel from the brain along motor pathways to activate muscles in the body.
- The neurons responsible for these pathways are called motor neurons.
02. Motor Cortex and Muscle Control:
- The motor cortex in the brain plays a crucial role.
- Neurons in the primary motor cortex (such as Betz cells) synapse with lower motor neurons in the brainstem or spinal cord.
- These connections allow precise control over muscle movements.
03. Neuromuscular Junction:
- When you decide to move a muscle, the brain sends signals.
- At the neuromuscular junction, neurons release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
- Acetylcholine binds to receptors on the muscle fiber’s cell wall (sarcolemma), initiating muscle contraction
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