General somatic efferent fibers

The *spinal* somatic efferent neurons (GSE, 'somatomotor, or somatic motor fibers), arise from motor neuron cell bodies in the ventral horns of the gray matter within the spinal cord. They exit the spinal cord through the ventral roots, carrying motor impulses to skeletal muscle.

Of the somatic efferent neurons, there exist subtypes.

• Alpha motor neurons (α) target extrafusal muscle fibers.
• Gamma motor neurons (γ) target intrafusal muscle fibres

Cranial nerves also supply their own somatic efferent neurons to the extraocular muscles and some of the muscles of the tongue.

See also

• Nerve fiber
• Efferent nerve

References

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.