Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders

About this book

The aim of this chapter is to increase the reader's understanding of five factors: 1) the structure of the neuromuscular junction; 2) the mechanism triggering release of vesicles of acetylcholine from the nerve terminal; 3) the two ion channels on the postsynaptic membrane (Na+ channels and acetylcholine receptors) that are critical for converting the chemical signal from the nerve terminal into a propagated action potential on the muscle fiber; 4) the safety factor for neuromuscular transmission and characteristics of the neuromuscular junction that contribute to the safety factor; and 5) the mechanism by which disease compromises the safety factor, leading to neuromuscular transmission failure.