Page:  of 52323
 

ACETYLCHOLINE

əsētˌəlkōˈlēn, a small organic molecule liberated at nerve endings as a neurotransmitter. It is particularly important in the stimulation of muscle tissue. The transmission of an impulse to the end of the nerve causes it to release neurotransmitter molecules onto the surface of the next cell, stimulating it. After such release, the acetylcholine is quickly broken into acetate and choline, which pass back to the first cell to be recycled into acetylcholine again. The poison curare acts by blocking the transmission of acetylcholine. Some nerve gases operate by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine causing continual stimulation of the receptor cells, which leads to intense spasms of the muscles, including the heart. Acetylcholine is often abbreviated as Ach. See nervous system.

____________________

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright© 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All rights reserved.

-307-

Questia Media America, Inc. www.questia.com

Publication Information: Encyclopedia Article Title: Acetylcholine. Encyclopedia Title: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Publisher: Columbia University Press. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 2004.
This feature allows you to create and manage separate folders for your different research projects. To view markups for a different project, make that project your current project.
This feature allows you to save a link to the publication you are reading or view all the publications you have put on your bookshelf.
This feature allows you to save a link to the page you are reading, which you can later return to from Projects.
This feature allows you to highlight words or phrases on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to save a note you write on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to create a citation to the page you are reading that you can paste into your paper. Highlight a passage to include that passage as a quotation.
This feature allows you to save a reference to a publication you are reading for your bibliography or generate a bibliography you can paste into your paper.
This feature allows you to produce a printable version of the page you are reading, including your notes and highlights. IE users must have "print background colors and images" setting selected.
This feature allows you to look up words in a dictionary, thesaurus or encyclopedia.
  About Questia Tools
Close Window  
Questia's powerful research tools allow you to highlight, take notes, bookmark and even create instant citations and bibliographies. To use these features and save hours of work, you must be a subscriber to the Questia service.
Need a Questia account?
Choose a subscription plan to save tons of time, stress and hassle, and experience faster, easier research.

» Click here for our subscription plans

Already have a Questia account? Login now!
Error
Working...
Choose one of the options for printing
Print this page
Print pages to *
Print Center
*addtional charges my occur