MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Synaptic Cleft / Junctional Cleft: The space between the nerve terminal and the plasma membrane of muscle is called synaptic/junctional cleft and measures ∼50 nm. It is the site where presynaptic neurotransmitters, ACh is released before it interacts with nicotinic ACh receptors on the motor endplate.

Detailed explanation-2: -The synaptic cleft is the gap between the presynaptic terminal and the postsynaptic muscle membrane, which is filled with a specialized form of extracellular matrix called synaptic basal lamina (Sanes, 2003). This matrix is crucial for the alignment, organization and structural integrity of the NMJ.

Detailed explanation-3: -In fact, the synaptic cleft between an axon terminal and muscle cell is called a neuromuscular junction. This is because the neuromuscular junction is a specialized type of synaptic cleft that transmits signals from a neuron to muscle cells, causing muscle contraction.

Detailed explanation-4: -the narrow space between the synaptic terminal an the muscle fiber is the. synaptic cleft.