Elizabeth’s BioBlog

Magnificent Mypodia!! 

Myopodia are actin based post synaptic filopodia. These structures extend from muscle cells with the purpose of “finding” its partner neuron. When the synaptic target is identified the myopodia form a cluster and subsynaptic components are recruited. The event that follows is known as synaptogenesis, which is the origin of neuromuscular junctions that allows neuron signals to reach the muscle. Here are shown several images of the appearance of myopodia in Drosophila muscle cells.