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Motor neuron
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=== Upper motor neurons === [[Upper motor neuron]]s originate in the [[motor cortex]] located in the [[precentral gyrus]]. The cells that make up the [[primary motor cortex]] are [[Betz cell]]s, which are giant [[pyramidal cell]]s. The axons of these cells descend from the cortex to form the [[corticospinal tract]].<ref>Fitzpatrick, D. (2001) The Primary Motor Cortex: Upper Motor Neurons That Initiate Complex Voluntary Movements. In D. Purves, G.J. Augustine, D. Fitzpatrick, et al. (Ed.), Neuroscience. Retrieved from {{cite web |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10962/ |title=The Primary Motor Cortex: Upper Motor Neurons That Initiate Complex Voluntary Movements - Neuroscience - NCBI Bookshelf |access-date=2017-11-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605025217/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10962/ |archive-date=2018-06-05 }}</ref> [[Primary motor cortex#Corticomotorneurons|Corticomotorneurons]] project from the primary cortex directly onto motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|title=Principles of neural science|others=Kandel, Eric R.|isbn=9780071390118|edition=5th|location=New York|oclc=795553723|last1 = Mack|first1 = Sarah|last2 = Kandel|first2 = Eric R.|last3 = Jessell|first3 = Thomas M.|last4 = Schwartz|first4 = James H.|last5 = Siegelbaum|first5 = Steven A.|last6 = Hudspeth|first6 = A. J.|year = 2013}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last=Lemon|first=Roger N.|date=April 4, 2008|title=Descending Pathways in Motor Control|journal=Annual Review of Neuroscience|language=en|volume=31|issue=1|pages=195β218|doi=10.1146/annurev.neuro.31.060407.125547|pmid=18558853|s2cid=16139768|issn=0147-006X}}</ref> Their axons synapse on the spinal motor neurons of multiple muscles as well as on spinal [[interneuron]]s.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12" /> They are unique to primates and it has been suggested that their function is the adaptive control of the [[hands]] including the relatively independent control of individual fingers.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Isa|first=T|date=April 2007|title=Direct and indirect cortico-motoneuronal pathways and control of hand/arm movements.|journal=Physiology|volume=22|issue=2|pages=145β152|pmid=17420305|doi=10.1152/physiol.00045.2006}}</ref> Corticomotorneurons have so far only been found in the primary motor cortex and not in secondary motor areas.<ref name=":12"/>
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