Which neuron transmits impulses from sensory to motor neurons?

Which neuron transmits impulses from sensory to motor neurons?

• A. Motor neuron
• B. Sensory neuron
• C. Pyramidal neuron
• D. Relay neuron(s) / interneurons

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how a signal moves from sensing a stimulus to getting a response. Sensory neurons carry the impulse from receptors toward the central nervous system. Inside the CNS, relay neurons (interneurons) connect that incoming signal to motor neurons, which then send the message to muscles or glands to produce a response. This relay role is why interneurons are the best choice here: they act as the bridge between sensing and acting. Pyramidal neurons are brain cells involved in higher processing and aren’t the usual connectors between sensory input and motor output. Motor neurons carry impulses from the CNS to effectors, while sensory neurons transport signals to the CNS. In some simple reflexes, a direct sensory-to-motor connection can occur without an interneuron, but when describing the pathway that transmits between the sensory and motor neuron stages, relay neurons are the key link.

The main idea is how a signal moves from sensing a stimulus to getting a response. Sensory neurons carry the impulse from receptors toward the central nervous system. Inside the CNS, relay neurons (interneurons) connect that incoming signal to motor neurons, which then send the message to muscles or glands to produce a response. This relay role is why interneurons are the best choice here: they act as the bridge between sensing and acting. Pyramidal neurons are brain cells involved in higher processing and aren’t the usual connectors between sensory input and motor output. Motor neurons carry impulses from the CNS to effectors, while sensory neurons transport signals to the CNS. In some simple reflexes, a direct sensory-to-motor connection can occur without an interneuron, but when describing the pathway that transmits between the sensory and motor neuron stages, relay neurons are the key link.