What is the last element of the lower motor neuron pathway?

The final common pathway is considered the last element of the lower motor neuron pathway because it refers to the collective paths through which motor commands are sent from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles. This encompasses both alpha motor neurons and gamma motor neurons, which are responsible for innervating the muscle fibers and facilitating contraction.

The alpha motor neurons directly stimulate muscle fibers to initiate voluntary movements, while gamma motor neurons modulate the sensitivity of muscle spindle receptors. However, the concept of the final common pathway is broader, as it integrates and conveys all motor commands to the muscles. Once the signal reaches the final common pathway, it implies that all previous neural processing has been completed, and the decision to move has culminated in a definitive action toward muscle contraction. Thus, understanding that the final common pathway is the endpoint of motor signals reinforces its importance in the context of neural communication and muscle control.