Motor Neuron Research Paper

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Pages: 3

Briefly identify and describe the structure and function of a typical motor neuron.
A motor neuron is a form of cell in the nervous system that directly or indirectly controls the contraction or relaxation of the muscles that eventually lead to movement. A neuron is composed of three components: dendrites, cell body, and axon. The dendrites branches out from the cell body and receive the electrical impulses from various parts of the nervous system. The cell body contains the required cellular components and genetic data in order for the cell to be able to function properly. The axon is the most important component to the neuron as it conducts electrical impulses and sends signals to the needed areas.

Motor neurons are found in the CNS. Their axons are projected outside of the CNS to directly/indirectly control muscles. The interface between a motor neuron and muscle fiber is a specialized synapse known as the neuromuscular junction. The structure of motor neurons contains a single
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Schwann cells functions to protect the axon. By twisting around the axon as it grows enveloping the axon, this is known as a myelin sheath covering a PNS neuron. Myelinated nerves conduct impulses quicker than non-myelinated nerves. However, it also assists with regeneration of PNS axons (Brain Facts, 2016).

Myelination is the process of an electrically insulated layer of a myelin sheath that covers neurons specifically over the axon, the long, fibrous area of a neuron. It is responsible for transmitting electrical data throughout the body at an increasing speed through electrical impulses. It does not cover the entire length of the axon, however it has tiny gaps known as “Nodes of Ranvier” allowing signals to still travel down an un-insulated axon by jumping from node to node in a process known as salutatory conduction.
Briefly identify and describe the superficial and internal anatomy of the spinal