Question

From the spinal cord, a somatic motor neuron pathway has ______ neuron(s); whereas generally, an autonomic motor neuron pathway has ______ neuron(s).

1) one, two
2) two, one
3) two, two
4) one, one

Answer 1

The somatic motor neuron pathway has one neuron, and the autonomic motor neuron pathway usually has two neurons. Hence, the correct answer is 1) one, two.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the spinal cord, a somatic motor neuron pathway has one neuron; whereas generally, an autonomic motor neuron pathway has two neurons. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is 1) one, two.

The somatic nervous system involves a direct connection from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscle, mediated by a single motor neuron. In contrast, the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions, includes a two-neuron chain - the preganglionic neuron that exits the central nervous system and synapses with a postganglionic neuron, which then connects to the target organ.

The motor pathway for controlling skeletal muscle includes an upper motor neuron and a lower motor neuron. The upper motor neuron originates in the cerebral cortex, synapses in the spinal cord, and the lower motor neuron extends from the spinal cord to the muscle, forming a neuromuscular junction.