Читать книгу Neurobiology For Dummies - Frank Amthor - Страница 22

Animals evolved specialized cells called muscle cells, for movement. Muscle cells work by contracting. In voluntary skeletal muscle, muscle cells contract by being driven by motor neurons. A large group of contracting muscle cells pulls on a tendon that is attached to a bone, moving the joint.

Neurons are necessary for coordinated movement in multicellular animals. Different muscles must be contracted in an organized manner, and information from the senses must be sent to remote parts of the body neurons to coordinate movement.

Neurons accomplish their role of coordinating and communicating activity across the body though chemical communication and electricity. The electrical properties of neurons allow them to communicate information precisely across long distances to specific target cells. In the case of connections to muscles, motor neurons produce movement by inducing their target muscle cells to contract.