motor neuron

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Word: Motor Neuron

Definition: A motor neuron is a type of nerve cell that sends signals from the brain or spinal cord to muscles in the body, telling them to move. Think of it like a messenger that carries instructions from the brain to your arms, legs, and other muscles.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Countability: Countable (you can have one motor neuron or many motor neurons)

Example Sentence:

• "When you want to pick up a cup, your brain sends a signal through motor neurons to your hand muscles to make it move."

Advanced Usage:

In medical or scientific contexts, you might see phrases like "motor neuron disease," which refers to conditions that damage these important nerve cells, leading to muscle weakness.

Word Variants:

• Motor Neurons (plural): Refers to more than one motor neuron.
• Motor Neuron Disease: A medical condition affecting motor neurons.

Different Meaning:

While "motor neuron" specifically refers to a type of nerve cell involved in movement, the word "motor" on its own can mean anything related to motion or movement (like "motor vehicle").

Synonyms:

• Efferent neuron: Another term for motor neurons, focusing on their role of carrying signals away from the brain.
• Nerve cell: A more general term that includes motor neurons as well as other types of neurons.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "motor neuron," but you might encounter phrases in medical contexts like: - "Get the motor running": This is an idiomatic expression meaning to start moving or to get something going, but it doesn’t refer to motor neurons directly.

Conclusion:

Understanding motor neurons helps us grasp how our bodies move.

Academic

Noun

1. a neuron conducting impulses outwards from the brain or spinal cord

Synonyms

• efferent neuron
• motor nerve fiber
• motoneuron