motor neuron

noun

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Definition of motor neuron

: a neuron that passes from the central nervous system or a ganglion toward a muscle and conducts an impulse that causes movement — called also motoneuron

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Recent Examples of motor neuron from the Web

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis slowly destroys the body’s motor neurons, eventually paralyzing every muscle.

— dom amore, courant.com, "Dom Amore: Yard Goats' Sam Hilliard Stoically Carries A Burden As He Pursues Big Leagues," 10 July 2018
Roughly once a day in the United States, a child is born with a fatal genetic disorder that destroys motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "U.S. Health secretary under pressure to approve screening of newborns for fatal genetic disease," 28 June 2018
The authors also dissected out both sensory and motor neurons from unsensitized animals and exposed these to the RNA.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers claim to have transferred a memory between two sea slugs," 16 May 2018
Those months may be crucial: One study showed that in the sickest patients, 90% of motor neurons are destroyed by the age of 6 months.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "U.S. Health secretary under pressure to approve screening of newborns for fatal genetic disease," 28 June 2018
At the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with a fatal, motor neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

— jennifer earl, Fox News, "Stephen Hawking lived with ALS a stunning 50-plus years: What to know about the nervous system disease," 14 Mar. 2018
Words spoken by Hawking, who died in March aged 76 after a lengthy battle with motor neuron disease, have been set to music by Vangelis, a Greek composer known for his Chariots of Fire movie theme.

— kim hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "Stephen Hawking's voice will be beamed into space toward 'nearest black hole'," 15 June 2018
More than 1,000 people attended a service of thanksgiving for the physicist, who died in March aged 76 after decades living with motor neuron disease.

— new york times, BostonGlobe.com, "Hawking laid to rest in Westminster Abbey," 15 June 2018
Following Hawking's death in March, the renowned British physicist, who had battled a debilitating degenerative motor neuron disease for decades, was remembered at a memorial service Friday at Westminster Abbey.

— lindsey bever, Washington Post, "Stephen Hawking’s farewell: As his ashes were buried, his voice was beamed into space," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motor neuron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of motor neuron

1898

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

motor neuron

noun

medical Definition of motor neuron

: a neuron that passes from the central nervous system or a ganglion toward or to a muscle and conducts a nerve impulse that causes movement — called also motoneuron; compare interneuron, sensory neuron