Spinal Cord Anatomy CLOSE

Lateral Motor Nuclei

The ventral horn of the spinal cord contains somatic efferent neurons (motor neurons) arranged into clusters called motor nuclei. Medial motor nuclei (unlabeled) innervate axial musculature and are present at all levels of spinal cord. Lateral motor nuclei (labeled below) innervate limb musculature and are found in cervical and lumbosacral enlargement segments. As shown below, lateral motor nuclei are somatotopically organized. Proximal muscles are ventral; distal muscles are dorsal. Cranial muscles are lateral; caudal muscles are medial.

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