The ~nerve~-muscle junction features a connection, or |synapse|, between an |axon| terminal and a group of |muscle fibers|. A space between the neural and muscular tissue is called the synaptic space. When a ~nerve~ impulse is transmitted to the |axon| terminal, it causes a chemical (neurotransmitter) to be released from small sacs, called synaptic vesicles, within the terminal, or knob. The neurotransmitter causes sodium ions to be transferred to the |muscle fibers| which, in turn, contract. The neurons are covered by an insulating, lipid-based coating, called the |myelin sheath|, which prevents stray neural signals from passing to other neurons or to other tissues.
