Question

Which statement is false about how motor axons grow?

A. Motor axons grow through peripheral nerves to muscles
B. Motor axons leave the spinal cord along the entire length, but are gathered into segmental ventral roots by barriers present within the somites
C. Axons run through a large nerve within the limb avoiding cartilage and skin
D. Axons destine for one muscle gather together and leave large nerves at discrete points to enter target muscles
E. Axons leave intramuscular nerve to synapse on multiple muscle fibers

Answer 1

The false statement is that motor axons intentionally avoid cartilage and skin while growing; they actually grow through peripheral nerves directed to their muscle targets. The correct false statement is C. Axons run through a large nerve within the limb avoiding cartilage and skin

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement about how motor axons grow is "Axons run through a large nerve within the limb avoiding cartilage and skin." Motor axons do not specifically avoid cartilage and skin; rather, they follow a path through peripheral nerves to their destination. The growth of motor axons is characterized by several identifiable steps:

• Motor axons leave the spinal cord through the ventral root and join the emerging spinal nerve.
• These axons grow through peripheral nerves to reach the skeletal muscles they will innervate.
• Within the developing limb, they extend and are guided by various molecular cues to their target muscles.
• Once near their target muscles, the motor axons leave the larger nerves at specific points to enter the muscles.
• At their destination, motor axons form neuromuscular junctions synapsing on multiple muscle fibers within a target muscle.

The correct false statement is C. Axons run through a large nerve within the limb avoiding cartilage and skin