The neurotransmitter released by somatic motor neurons is a. acetylcholine, b. acetylcholinesterase, c. norepinephrine.

Video transcript

Hi, everyone. Let's take a look at this practice problem together, axon terminals play an essential role by releasing the neurotransmitters of the presynaptic cells. What chemical is contained in vesicles within the axon terminals? The answer options are a calcium ions B, acetylcholine C phosphate and D muscle fibers. OK. Before we discuss this question in depth, we are gonna go ahead and eliminate. Option. D muscle fibers are part of the muscular system. They are the cylindrical muscle cells. This question pertains to the nervous system. So eliminating option D we're already one option. Choice closer to the answer. Now recall that axon terminals are the ends of an axon of a neuron and neural transmitters are the chemical messengers that will send signals from a neuron in the presynaptic cell. That is the neuron which is sending the signal through the use of neurotransmitters. So which chemical is found in the axon terminal? Now, while the body does use phosphate, it is not a neuro transmitter. So option C is also incorrect and calcium ions recall that they are important in voltage-gated calcium channels in membranes. So they are found in cell membranes. It is not a chemical in the vesicles of axon terminals. So option A is incorrect as well. The correct answer is acetylcholine, acetylcholine is found in the vesicles. Now, when a neuron sends an impulse, it will travel down to the axon terminal and there the vesicles fuse with the cell membrane releasing the acetylcholine. So again, the correct answer is option B acetylcholine. All right, everyone. I hope you found this helpful and I'll see you soon for the next practice problem.