B0004108 Poly-innervated neuromuscular junctions
Credit: Tom Gillingwater. Wellcome Images
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Confocal image of axons making contact with muscle
fibres at neuromuscular junctions. Initially, as
seen here, more than one nerve fibre contacts each
muscle fibre. As development proceeds, the mature
innervation pattern is established where only one
motor axon contacts each muscle fibre. This
transition is called synapse elimination and is
thought to involve of competition between the
neurons. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (red)
sends the signals from the nerve to makes the
muscle contract.
Confocal micrograph
Published: –
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