All Glossary Terms
Anatomy
Motor Unit
A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates.
A motor unit consists of one motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it controls. When the neuron fires, all its fibers contract. Motor units vary in size: small units (few fibers) for fine control, large units (many fibers) for powerful movements. Strength gains occur partly through improved motor unit recruitment and firing rate.
Examples
- Small motor units in eye muscles
- Large motor units in quads
- Learning to recruit more motor units