Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

Where are the cell bodies of lower motor neurons controlling the legs generally located?

1. the precentral gyrus

2. the postcentral gyrus

3. the ventral horn of the spinal column

4. the dorsal horn of the spinal column

The correct answer is: the ventral horn of the spinal column

The cell bodies of lower motor neurons that control the legs are located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. This area contains the cell bodies of motor neurons that send their axons out through the ventral roots to innervate skeletal muscles, including those in the legs. This arrangement is crucial because lower motor neurons are responsible for transmitting signals from the central nervous system to the muscles, facilitating voluntary movement. The other options refer to areas that do not contain the cell bodies of lower motor neurons. The precentral gyrus is associated with the primary motor cortex, where upper motor neurons originate, while the postcentral gyrus is related to sensory processing. The dorsal horn, on the other hand, is primarily involved in processing sensory information and contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons, not motor neurons. Thus, the correct answer underscores the fundamental distinction between these areas in relation to motor control.