What is the function of motor neurons?

Motor neurons play a crucial role in the nervous system by transmitting impulses to muscles, enabling movement and coordination. These specialized neurons carry signals away from the central nervous system to the muscles, stimulating them to contract and perform various actions. This process is essential for voluntary movements, such as walking or typing, as well as involuntary actions, such as reflexes.

Understanding the function of motor neurons helps clarify how the nervous system controls body movements and responses. The other functions, such as conducting sensory information or processing information in the brain, are performed by different types of neurons. For instance, sensory neurons are responsible for carrying impulses related to sensory stimuli from the body to the brain, while interneurons process and relay information within the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, supporting neuron function relates to the roles of glial cells rather than motor neurons themselves. This distinction emphasizes the specific function of motor neurons in initiating muscle contractions and facilitating movement.