Which of the following medications can induce muscle relaxation during surgery?

Succinylcholine and atracurium are both neuromuscular blockers that induce muscle relaxation and are commonly used during surgical procedures to facilitate intubation and surgical access.

Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocker that causes transient muscle fasciculations followed by paralysis. It acts rapidly and is particularly effective for short surgical procedures due to its quick onset and short duration of action, making it a preferred choice in many emergency settings.

Atracurium, on the other hand, is a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker. It causes muscle relaxation by competitively inhibiting the action of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, leading to paralysis. Atracurium is unique in that it undergoes a process called spontaneous degradation, making it suitable for use in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, as its effects are not prolonged in these populations.

In contrast, pilocarpine is a cholinergic agonist used primarily to treat dry mouth and glaucoma but does not have muscle relaxant properties and is not used in surgical settings for this purpose. Thus, the combination of succinylcholine and atracurium efficiently covers the need for muscle relaxation during surgery, properly supporting