Final answer:
The number of distinct synapses on the dendrites and cell body of a motor neuron in the spinal cord is in the thousands. These synapses are part of the complex neural network that allows for the transmission of signals from and to the muscles, facilitating movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the number of distinct synapses that are established on the dendrites and cell body of a motor neuron in the spinal cord. The correct answer to this question is approximately (c) thousands. Motor neurons in the spinal cord receive a vast number of inputs from various sources, and this complexity is reflected in the thousands of synapses each neuron typically has.
Each motor neuron's axon projects to muscle through the ventral root of the spinal cord and is part of the peripheral nervous system, specifically an efferent nerve, as it carries signals away from the central nervous system towards muscles to stimulate movement. Furthermore, the chemical synapse is a critical structure for signal transmission, wherein neurotransmitters released by neuron A cross the synaptic space to bind to receptors on neuron B, thus conveying the signal.
Motor Neurons and Signal Transmission in the Spinal Cord
- Spinal nerves carry both sensory and motor information between the spinal cord and the rest of the body.
- Motor neurons have a high number of synapses to process complex inputs.
- A chemical synapse enables the transmission of signals between neurons in the spinal cord.