| Which differentiated cell type is used |
| Label |
motor neuron |
| Link |
http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/CL_0000100 |
| Description |
An efferent neuron that passes from the central nervous system or a ganglion toward or to a muscle and conducts an impulse that causes or inhibits movement.; Motor neurons, also known as motoneurons, are a type of neural cell that is fundamental to voluntary movement of muscles. Located within the central nervous system (CNS), motor neurons in the motor cortex travel to the brainstem and spinal cord. Motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord extend their lengthy axons out to muscles throughout the body. These specialized neurons are an inherent part of the so-called somatic division of the nervous system which mediates conscious control of skeletal muscles.
The primary function of motor neurons is to relay signals from the CNS to the body's many muscles, controlling both their contraction and relaxation. In response to impulses transmitted from the brain or spinal cord, it creates an electrical signal (action potential), which travels along its axon to cause the controlled movement of specific muscles. Motor neurons can connect with skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles, or glands, leading to three respective types: somatic motor neurons, autonomic motor neurons, and the neurons of the enteric nervous system.
Key components of motor neurons include the cell body (soma), dendrites, and axons. The cell body houses the nucleus and is the site of the neuron's intrinsic functions. Dendrites are thin structures that branch from the cell body and receive messages (electrical signals) from other neurons. The axon, a long, single tail-like extension, carries these signals away from the cell body towards the targeted muscle. If a motor neuron is damaged or dies, the muscle or gland it controls can lose function, which can result in conditions like motor neuron disease, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.
(This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) |
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