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The ______ root of a spinal nerve consists entirely of motor neuron axons.

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Final answer:

The ventral root of a spinal nerve consists entirely of motor neuron axons. Motor neurons located in the ventral gray matter of the spinal cord project their axons through the ventral root to control muscular movements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ventral root of a spinal nerve consists entirely of motor neuron axons. Spinal nerves serve the critical function of transmitting sensory and motor information between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Sensory neuron cell bodies are located in the dorsal root ganglia, and their axons enter the spinal cord via the dorsal nerve root. On the other hand, motor neurons, which direct the movement of skeletal muscles, have cell bodies located in the ventral gray matter of the spinal cord and project out through the ventral root.

For a concrete example, the radial nerve that runs through your arm gets its motor axons from motor neurons in the anterior horn of your spinal cord. These axons travel through the ventral root to form the nerve that ultimately enables you to move your arm and contract muscles.

User Vikhyat
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Final answer:

The ventral root of a spinal nerve consists entirely of motor neuron axons, which are responsible for transmitting impulses from the spinal cord to the muscles to direct movement. Sensory neurons have their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia, while motor neurons are in the ventral gray matter of the spinal cord.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ventral root of a spinal nerve consists entirely of motor neuron axons. Spinal nerves play a crucial role in transmitting sensory and motor information between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. The spinal cord consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves, each comprising both sensory and motor axons.

Sensory axons enter the spinal cord through the dorsal nerve root, where the nerve cells' bodies are located in the dorsal root ganglia. In contrast, motor axons emerge from the ventral nerve root and are responsible for conveying impulses from the spinal cord to the muscles, thus directing movement. The cell bodies of these motor neurons are situated in the ventral portion of the gray matter of the spinal cord. This anatomical organization ensures precise control and coordination between sensory input and motor output.

User Aviral Srivastava
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