Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses in the peripheral nervous system that allow the transmission of neuronal impulses to skeletal muscles for their contraction. Due to its size and accessibility, the NMJ is a commonly used model for studying basic principles of synapse organization and function. Similar to synapses in the central nervous system, NMJs are composed of presynaptic axonal terminals, the postsynaptic machinery formed at the membrane of the muscle fibers, and the synapse-associated glial cells. The special glial cells at the NMJs are called terminal Schwann cells or perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs). Decades of studies on the NMJ, as well as the most recent discoveries, have revealed multiple functions for PSCs at different stages of synaptic formation, maintenance, and disassembly. This review summarizes major observations in the field.

神经肌肉接头（NMJ）是外周神经系统中的专门突触，可将神经元冲动传递至骨骼肌进行收缩。由于其大小和可访问性，NMJ是研究突触组织和功能基本原理的常用模型。类似于中枢神经系统中的突触，NMJ由突触前轴突末端，在肌纤维膜上形成的突触后机器以及与突触相关的神经胶质细胞组成。NMJs处的特殊神经胶质细胞称为末端雪旺细胞或突触周围雪旺细胞（PSC）。数十年来有关NMJ的研究以及最新发现揭示了PSC在突触形成，维持和分解的不同阶段具有多种功能。