What neurotransmitter is released by the Sympathetic Nervous System at the skeletal muscle?

The neurotransmitter released by the Sympathetic Nervous System at the skeletal muscle is acetylcholine. In the context of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic division primarily utilizes norepinephrine as its primary neurotransmitter at most target tissues. However, at the neuromuscular junction, which is where the skeletal muscles receive signals for contraction, acetylcholine is the key neurotransmitter released from motor neurons regardless of the overall sympathetic tone.

Understanding the role of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction is crucial as it binds to receptors on the muscle fibers, leading to muscle contraction. Although the sympathetic nervous system has a wide range of effects on different types of tissues using various neurotransmitters, acetylcholine remains specifically vital for the activation of skeletal muscles. Other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and epinephrine generally relate to sympathetic actions but function differently in this particular context, focusing more on modulating body responses rather than directly stimulating muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction.