To begin the muscle contraction cycle, an action potential arrives at the pre-synaptic cells. This causes voltage-gated Calcium channels to open, and acetylcholine to be released. The acetylcholine binds to the receptors on the motor end plate. This opens up the ligand-gated sodium channels, causing the depolarization of the muscle cell and leading to an action potential. The action potential travels down the T-tubules to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This triggers calcium to be released from the stored vesicles, leading to a contraction.
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