PHARMACOLOGY

 NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKERS ::

These are the agents that are able to reduce the unwanted spasm or rigidity of skeletal muscles without interfering with consciousness and normal voluntary movements They are also known as skeletal muscle relaxants or myoneural blocking agents 

        Their main site of action is the motor end plate of skeletal or voluntary muscles Skeletal muscles are supplied with cholinergic nerves which liberate acetylcholine at the nerve endings and thus cause depolarization (production of temporary electric charge) This is called end plate potential which is responsible for the contraction of the muscles Acetylcholine is hydrolyzed by the enzyme cholinesterase and hence the muscle relaxes and returns to normal if deplorization continues the muscle remains in contractile condition and thus nerve impulses are not further transmitted Absence of depolarization and persistent depolarization produces relaxation of the muscles