Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Neuromuscular Junction01:19

The Neuromuscular Junction

10.9K
The nervous system consists of complex motor neuron circuits, including upper motor neurons originating from the cerebral cortex and lower motor neurons starting in the spinal cord, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary movements. Among these, somatic motor neurons activate skeletal muscles and are classified into alpha, beta, and gamma types. Alpha neurons are vital for voluntary movement coordination, while gamma neurons adjust muscle spindle sensitivity, and the function of beta...
10.9K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

1.9K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
1.9K
Spinal Cord: Information Processing01:10

Spinal Cord: Information Processing

1.7K
The spinal cord is an integral hub for motor and sensory information that enables the brain to communicate with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This communication consists of relaying sensory data and transmission of motor commands.
Sensory Information Processing
Sensory information processing begins at the sensory receptors located in the skin and other tissues, which detect somatic sensory stimuli such as touch, temperature, or pain. These receptors function as catalysts, initiating...
1.7K
Spinal Nerves: Anatomy01:23

Spinal Nerves: Anatomy

4.0K
Spinal nerves are pivotal conduits in the nervous system, bridging the central nervous system (CNS) with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). These nerves enable a complex communication network between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, facilitating sensory input, motor output, and autonomic functions.
There are 31 bilateral pairs of spinal nerves, each emerging from the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina—openings between adjacent vertebrae. These nerves are...
4.0K
Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

58.9K
A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
58.9K
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

2.3K
The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
2.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spiking neural network decoders of finger forces from high-density intramuscular microelectrode arrays.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

A Roadmap to Navigate the Future of Neural Engineering.

Journal of neural engineering·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Implanted microelectrode arrays in reinnervated muscles allow separation of neural drives from transferred polyfunctional nerves.

Nature biomedical engineering·2026
Same author

The increase in time to task failure following endurance training is associated with adjustments in motor unit firing properties.

Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2026
Same author

Spinal motor neuron pools may be partly driven by impulsive common inputs.

The Journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Space Physiology and Technology: Adaptations, Countermeasures, and Opportunities for Wearable Systems.

Cyborg and bionic systems (Washington, D.C.)·2026
Same journal

Distinct involvements of the subthalamic nucleus subpopulations in reward-biased decision-making in monkeys.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Pink1-mediated mitophagy in the endothelium releases proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA and activates neutrophil responses during inflammation.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Restraint of melanoma progression by cells in the local skin environment.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Brawn before bite in endemic Asian eutherian mammals after the end-Cretaceous extinction.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Experimental evolution to thermal stress indicates climate resilience in a cosmopolitan arthropod.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Correlates of protection against African swine fever virus identified by a systems immunology approach.

eLife·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Simultaneous Intracellular Recording of a Lumbar Motoneuron and the Force Produced by its Motor Unit in the Adult Mouse In vivo
13:07

Simultaneous Intracellular Recording of a Lumbar Motoneuron and the Force Produced by its Motor Unit in the Adult Mouse In vivo

Published on: December 5, 2012

14.8K

Mathematical relationships between spinal motoneuron properties.

Arnault H Caillet1, Andrew T M Phillips1, Dario Farina2

  • 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

Elife
|July 18, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study quantifies relationships between spinal alpha-motoneuron (MN) properties in mammals. The findings offer a mathematical framework for understanding MN behavior and improving computational models.

Keywords:
Henneman's size principlemathematical relationshipsmotoneuronmotor neuronmotor neuron sizemotor unitneurosciencenonephysics of living systems

More Related Videos

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation
09:10

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation

Published on: October 13, 2016

9.7K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
06:55

Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Simultaneous Intracellular Recording of a Lumbar Motoneuron and the Force Produced by its Motor Unit in the Adult Mouse In vivo
13:07

Simultaneous Intracellular Recording of a Lumbar Motoneuron and the Force Produced by its Motor Unit in the Adult Mouse In vivo

Published on: December 5, 2012

14.8K
The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation
09:10

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation

Published on: October 13, 2016

9.7K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology
06:55

Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Spinal alpha-motoneuron (MN) behavior is linked to electrophysiological and anatomical properties.
  • Understanding these relationships is crucial for mammalian neurophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically derive quantitative mathematical relationships between MN membrane properties.
  • To validate a mathematical framework for MN electrophysiology and anatomy.

Main Methods:

  • Reprocessed data from 40 experimental studies on adult cat, rat, and mouse MN preparations.
  • Developed a validated mathematical framework to describe inter-relationships between MN properties.

Main Results:

  • Established quantitative mathematical relationships between MN size, resistance, rheobase, capacitance, time constant, conduction velocity, and afterhyperpolarization duration.
  • The framework supports existing findings on MN property interdependencies and aligns with Henneman's size principle and Rall's cable theory.

Conclusions:

  • The derived mathematical framework provides a tool for neuroscientists to analyze MN properties and inter-species variations.
  • Enables modelers to create consistent MN property profiles, enhancing simulation accuracy and interpretability.