lower motor neuron
Final neural pathway
A lower motor neuron is a nerve cell that carries signals directly from the spinal cord or brainstem to skeletal muscles, causing them to contract.
These neurons form the final pathway between the nervous system and voluntary movement.
Damage to lower motor neurons causes muscle weakness, wasting, and loss of reflexes—distinct from upper motor neuron damage, which produces stiffness and hyperactive reflexes.
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- cell bodyNeuron's central mass
- spinal cordBrain's extension through vertebrae
- muscleContractile body tissue
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
paralysis · atrophy · muscle wasting · weakness · twitch · fasciculation · flaccid · denervation · nerve · polio · wasting · peripheral · synapse · acetylcholine · fibrillation · hypotonia · muscle fiber · innervation
- motor systemvoluntary movement