The anterior horns of the spinal cord contain cell bodies of somatic neurons that innervate skeletal muscles.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: True
Explanation (300 words):
The statement is true. The anterior horns (also called ventral horns) of the spinal cord are essential components of the gray matter and play a critical role in motor control. These horns specifically contain the cell bodies of somatic motor neurons, which send axons out through the ventral roots of the spinal cord to innervate skeletal muscles throughout the body.
Somatic motor neurons are responsible for voluntary movements, such as walking, lifting, and facial expressions. These neurons receive signals from the brain through upper motor neurons that synapse onto them in the spinal cord. The lower motor neurons, whose cell bodies reside in the anterior horn, then transmit these signals directly to the muscle fibers, causing contraction.
This anatomical arrangement is a key part of the somatic nervous system, which is distinct from the autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary functions. In contrast to the anterior horns, the posterior (dorsal) horns of the spinal cord contain neurons involved in sensory processing, receiving incoming signals from sensory neurons.
Damage to the anterior horn cells, such as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or poliomyelitis, leads to muscle weakness or paralysis because the connection between the central nervous system and the muscles is disrupted.
The organization of the spinal cord into anterior and posterior regions with distinct functions reflects the division of labor within the nervous system. The anterior horn’s role in initiating voluntary movement highlights the spinal cord’s importance not just as a conduit for messages between the brain and body, but also as a processing and control center for movement.
In conclusion, the anterior horns of the spinal cord do indeed contain the cell bodies of somatic motor neurons that control skeletal muscles, making the statement accurate.