Beta motor neuron


Beta motor neurons, also called beta motoneurons, are a kind of lower motor neuron, along with alpha motor neurons and gamma motor neurons. Beta motor neurons innervate intrafusal fibers of muscle spindles with collaterals to extrafusal fibers - a type of slow twitch fiber. Also, axons of alpha, beta, and gamma motor neurons become myelinated. Moreover, these efferent neurons originate from the anterior grey column of the spinal cord and travel to skeletal muscles. However, the larger diameter alpha motor fibers require higher conduction velocity than beta and gamma.

Types

There are two kinds of beta motor neuron that include:
Gamma motor neurons innervate only intrafusal fibers of muscle spindles, but extrafusal fibers are innervated by alpha motoneurons.