Lateral motor nuclei of spinal nerves
Nuclei motorii laterales nervorum spinalium
Definition
The lateral motor nuclei of spinal nerves, situated in the anterior gray horn of the spinal cord, are vital for innervating limb musculature. They are most prominent in the cervical (C5–T1) and lumbosacral (L1–S3) regions, aligning with the cervical and lumbosacral enlargements. Efferent motor neurons from these nuclei innervate limb muscles via the brachial and lumbosacral plexuses, enabling precise motor control of the upper and lower limbs.
References
Snell, R.S. (2010). ‘Chapter 4: The Spinal Cord and the Ascending and Descending Tracts’, in Clinical Neuroanatomy. (7th ed.) Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 137-142.