acetylcholine
Sign in to saveAcetylcholine (ACh) is an organic compound that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Parts in the body that use or are affected by acetylcholine are referred to as cholinergic.
AI overview
Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger in the brain and body that transmits signals between nerve cells and other tissues across many types of animals, including humans. It plays a crucial role in how your nervous system communicates and coordinates bodily functions.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug.image
- Acetylcholine-skeletal-formula.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.source_tissues
- motor neurons, parasympathetic nervous system, brain
- Drug.target_tissues
- smooth muscles, brain, many other organs
- Drug.receptors
- nicotinic, muscarinic
- Drug.agonists
- nicotine, muscarine, cholinesterase inhibitors
- Drug.antagonists
- tubocurarine, atropine
- Drug.precursor
- choline, acetyl-CoA
- Drug.biosynthesis
- choline acetyltransferase
- Drug.metabolism
- acetylcholinesterase
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Acetylcholine
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- S01
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Functions
- Cellular effects
- Neuromuscular junction
- Autonomic nervous system
- Direct vascular effects
- Central nervous system
- Memory
- Diseases and disorders
- Myasthenia gravis
- Pharmacology
- Nicotinic receptors
- Muscarinic receptors
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Synthesis inhibitors
- Release inhibitors
- Photopharmacological agents
- Comparative biology and evolution
- History
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Acetylcholine (ACh) is an organic compound that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Parts in the body that use or are affected by acetylcholine are referred to as cholinergic.
Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction. In other words, it is the chemical that motor neurons of the nervous system release in order to activate muscles. This property means that drugs that affect cholinergic systems can have very dangerous effects ranging from paralysis to convulsions. Acetylcholine is also a neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system, both as an internal transmitter for both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system, and as the final product released by the parasympathetic nervous system. Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system.