The cells of the ventral columns become which neurons?

The cells of the ventral columns become which neurons?

• A. Interneurons
• B. Somatic motor neurons
• C. Autonomic motor neurons
• D. Sensory neurons

Answer: (B)

The ventral portion of the spinal cord develops into somatic motor neurons. These are the lower motor neurons whose cell bodies reside in the ventral (anterior) horn of the spinal gray matter and project to skeletal muscles to control voluntary movement. This region is associated with motor output to the body’s muscles, whereas sensory neurons sit in the dorsal side (dorsal root ganglia) and autonomic motor neurons are located in other regions (like the lateral horns) to innervate smooth muscle and glands. Interneurons are scattered throughout the gray matter to connect neurons locally, but the ventral columns specifically give rise to somatic motor neurons.

The ventral portion of the spinal cord develops into somatic motor neurons. These are the lower motor neurons whose cell bodies reside in the ventral (anterior) horn of the spinal gray matter and project to skeletal muscles to control voluntary movement. This region is associated with motor output to the body’s muscles, whereas sensory neurons sit in the dorsal side (dorsal root ganglia) and autonomic motor neurons are located in other regions (like the lateral horns) to innervate smooth muscle and glands. Interneurons are scattered throughout the gray matter to connect neurons locally, but the ventral columns specifically give rise to somatic motor neurons.