The general (spinal) somatic efferent neurons (GSE, somatomotor, or somatic motor fibers), arise from motor neuron cell bodies in the ventral horns of the
gray matter
Grey matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and capillaries. Grey matter is distingui ...
within the
spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the sp ...
. They exit the spinal cord through the
ventral roots, carrying motor impulses to
skeletal muscle through a
neuromuscular junction.
Of the somatic efferent neurons, there exist subtypes.
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Alpha motor neurons
Alpha (α) motor neurons (also called alpha motoneurons), are large, multipolar lower motor neurons of the brainstem and spinal cord. They innervate extrafusal muscle fibers of skeletal muscle and are directly responsible for initiating their ...
(α) target
extrafusal muscle fibers.
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Gamma motor neurons
A gamma motor neuron (γ motor neuron), also called gamma motoneuron, or fusimotor neuron, is a type of lower motor neuron that takes part in the process of muscle contraction, and represents about 30% of ( Aγ) fibers going to the muscle. Like ...
(γ) target
intrafusal muscle fibres
Cranial nerves also supply their own somatic efferent neurons to the
extraocular muscles
The extraocular muscles (extrinsic ocular muscles), are the seven extrinsic muscles of the human eye. Six of the extraocular muscles, the four recti muscles, and the superior and inferior oblique muscles, control movement of the eye and the othe ...
and some of the muscles of the
tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste ...
.
See also
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Nerve fiber
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Efferent nerve
Efferent nerve fibers refer to axonal projections that ''exit'' a particular region; as opposed to Afferent nerve fiber, afferent projections that ''arrive'' at the region. These terms have a slightly different meaning in the context of the per ...
References
Peripheral nervous system
{{Portal bar, Anatomy