Muscle Physiology and Contraction · USMLE Step 1

What structural arrangement at the neuromuscular junction ensures that one motor neuron can control multiple muscle fibers simultaneously?

  1. Multiple neuromuscular junctions per muscle fiber
  2. Many-to-one innervation (many neurons → one fiber)
  3. One-to-many innervation (one neuron → many fibers)
  4. Electrical synapses between fibers
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: One-to-many innervation (one neuron → many fibers)

In a motor unit, one somatic motor neuron branches to innervate many muscle fibers, allowing those fibers to contract simultaneously in a coordinated fashion.

Difficulty: Medium Question 8 of 20

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