| The Anatomy, Physiology, and Electrophysiologic Study of Neuromuscular Junction |
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Received: 12 November 2013 • Revised: 3 December 2013 • Accepted: 3 December 2013 |
| Abstract |
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The principal components of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) include the presynaptic terminal, synaptic space and postsynaptic muscle end-plate. This complex structure converts nerve action potentials into muscle contraction. One must understand normal NMJ anatomy and physiology in order to interpret the pathophysiological mechanism of NMJ disorders such as Myasthenia Gravis (MG) or Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). In any patients with symptoms of possible the NMJ disorder, one should perform repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) as part of the electrodiagnostic (EDX) evaluation. This review provides the outline of the anatomy and physiology of NMJ and it also focuses on the EDX evaluation of NMJ disorder. Therefore, the goals of this article are the link NMJ physiology and the patient’s clinical examination to EDX planning to test. |
| Key Words:
Neuromuscular junction, Anatomy, Acetylcholine, Repetitive nerve stimulation, Singer fiber EMG |
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