What to motor nerves do?

Motor nerves transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles, causing them to contract. They are essential for movement, as well as for maintaining muscle tone and posture. Motor nerves are made up of long, thin nerve fibers called axons, which are covered in a myelin sheath. The myelin sheath insulates the axon and helps to speed up the transmission of nerve signals.

Motor nerves are classified into two types: upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons. Upper motor neurons originate in the brain and travel down the spinal cord to the lower motor neurons. Lower motor neurons then travel from the spinal cord to the muscles.

When an upper motor neuron is damaged, it can cause paralysis or weakness in the muscles that it innervates. This can occur as a result of a stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neurological disorders. When a lower motor neuron is damaged, it can cause muscle weakness or atrophy. This can occur as a result of a peripheral neuropathy, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome.