acetylcholine
Muscle-activating neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter—a chemical that carries signals between nerve cells.
It plays essential roles in muscle movement, memory, and attention.
When you decide to move your arm, acetylcholine transmits that signal from nerve to muscle.
Drugs that affect acetylcholine levels are used to treat conditions from Alzheimer's disease to myasthenia gravis.
Nerve system promoting rest
- vagus nerveMajor parasympathetic cranial pathway
- heart rateCardiac contractions per minute
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- salivationMouth producing digestive fluid
lacrimation · bronchodilation · peristalsis · rest and digest · bradycardia · secretion · glandular · visceral
Nerve signal crossing point
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- neurotransmissionNerve cell chemical communication
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- nicotinicRelating to tobacco's active compound
presynaptic · axon · dendrite · neuron · neuromodulator · reuptake · exocytosis · depolarization
Reduction in size
- skeletal muscleVoluntary movement tissue
- smooth muscleInvoluntary contractile tissue
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
- curarePlant-derived paralytic toxin
paralysis · twitch · motor neuron · muscle relaxant · botulinum toxin · fasciculation · muscle tone · voluntary movement
Mind's retention capacity
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- hippocampusMemory formation region
- Alzheimer's diseaseDegenerative brain condition affecting memory
dementia · cognitive enhancement · cognitive decline · neuroplasticity · focus · mental clarity · recall · consolidation
Receptor-binding trigger molecule
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- atropineAnticholinergic alkaloid medication
- scopolamineTropane alkaloid for nausea
- nerve agentWeaponized neurotoxin
organophosphate · anticholinergic · nicotine · dose-response · therapeutic · toxicity · antidote
Alkoxy-substituted acid derivative
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
esterase · substrate · metabolism · degradation · precursor · catalysis · molecular structure
parasympathetic
Nerve system promoting rest
- vagus nerveMajor parasympathetic cranial pathway
- heart rateCardiac contractions per minute
- digestionBodily food breakdown
salivation · lacrimation · bronchodilation · peristalsis · rest and digest · bradycardia · secretion · glandular · visceral · bladder control
synapse
Nerve signal crossing point
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- neurotransmissionNerve cell chemical communication
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
nicotinic · presynaptic · axon · dendrite · neuron · neuromodulator · reuptake · exocytosis · depolarization · nerve impulse
contraction
Reduction in size
- skeletal muscleVoluntary movement tissue
- smooth muscleInvoluntary contractile tissue
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
curare · paralysis · twitch · motor neuron · muscle relaxant · botulinum toxin · fasciculation · muscle tone · voluntary movement
memory
Mind's retention capacity
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- hippocampusMemory formation region
Alzheimer's disease · dementia · cognitive enhancement · cognitive decline · neuroplasticity · focus · mental clarity · recall · consolidation · nootropic
agonist
Receptor-binding trigger molecule
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- atropineAnticholinergic alkaloid medication
- scopolamineTropane alkaloid for nausea
nerve agent · organophosphate · anticholinergic · nicotine · dose-response · therapeutic · toxicity · antidote
ester
Alkoxy-substituted acid derivative
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
enzyme · esterase · substrate · metabolism · degradation · precursor · catalysis · molecular structure
- Biochemicalsamino acid, amino acids, protein, proteins, DNA
- chemical compoundsaldehydes, amines, esters, ketones, sulfides
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, axon
- neurologybrain, neuron, neurons, synapse, synapses
- neuroscienceneuron, MRI, brain, neurons, synapses
- Neuroactive Drugsdopamine, serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine, neurotransmitters
acetylcholinenorepinephrine
Alertness and stress hormone
adrenaline · epinephrine · noradrenaline · catecholamines · dopamine
acetylcholinecurare
Plant-derived paralytic toxin
botulinum toxin · anticholinergics · atropine · scopolamine · cholinesterase
acetyl, choline, anticholinesterase, N-acetylcysteine, cholesterol, acetic, acetone, acetate, acetaminophen