RT Book, Section A1 Lewis, Choy R.A. A2 Freeman, Brian S. A2 Berger, Jeffrey S. SR Print(0) ID 1102567285 T1 Antagonism of Neuromuscular Blockade T2 Anesthesiology Core Review: Part One Basic Exam YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071821377 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1102567285 RD 2024/03/29 AB Muscle relaxation caused by a muscle relaxant drug can be terminated spontaneously by diffusion, redistribution, metabolism, and excretion or via pharmacological antagonism using specific reversal agents known as cholinesterase inhibitors. Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme found at the motor end plate. It functions by breaking down and reducing the amount of acetylcholine (ACh) at the nerve terminal. By inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, cholinesterase inhibitors indirectly increase the amount of ACh molecules that are available to compete with the nondepolarizing muscle relaxant for the binding sites of the ACh receptors.