Motor nerves
Motor nerves
Motor nerves (pronunciation: /ˈmoʊtər nɜːrvz/) are a type of nerve that originates from the brain or spinal cord and carries signals or impulses to the muscles, causing them to contract and enable movement.
Etymology
The term 'motor' is derived from the Latin word 'movere', meaning 'to move'. The term 'nerve' is derived from the Latin word 'nervus', meaning 'sinew, tendon, nerve'.
Function
Motor nerves are responsible for carrying signals from the central nervous system to the muscles in the body. This process is known as motor innervation. These nerves are crucial for all physical movements, including voluntary movements like walking or involuntary movements like the beating of the heart.
Types of Motor Nerves
There are two main types of motor nerves: somatic nerves and autonomic nerves. Somatic nerves are responsible for voluntary muscle movements, while autonomic nerves control involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion.
Somatic Nerves
Somatic nerves connect the brain and spinal cord to the muscles that are under conscious control. These nerves are responsible for activities that a person can control, such as walking or picking up objects.
Autonomic Nerves
Autonomic nerves control the involuntary or partially voluntary activities of the body, including heart rate, digestion, and temperature regulation. These nerves are further divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Related Terms
- Neuron: The basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells.
- Axon: The long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.
- Myelin Sheath: The insulating cover that surrounds an axon with multiple spiral layers of myelin, that is discontinuous at the nodes of Ranvier, and that increases the speed at which a nerve impulse can travel along an axon.
- Neuromuscular Junction: A synapse between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Motor nerves
- Wikipedia's article - Motor nerves
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