Let me share with you a comparison between Sensory Neuron and Motor neuron.
| Aspect | Sensory Neurons | Motor Neurons |
| Direction of Signal | Transmit signals from peripheral receptors e.g., skin, eyes, ears to the CNS | Transmit signals from the CNS to peripheral effectors e.g., muscles, glands |
| Types
|
· Nociceptors (pain)
· Photoreceptors (vision) |
· Somatic motor neurons (voluntary muscles)
· Autonomic motor neurons (involuntary muscles and glands) |
| Location of cell body | Typically located in ganglia outside the CNS | Located in the CNS e.g., spinal cord |
| Dendrites | Receive sensory stimuli from the environment or body | Receive signals from other neurons, including interneurons |
| Axon | Transmits signals toward the CNS | Transmits signals away from the CNS |
| Myelination | Some are myelinated | Many are myelinated |
| Response to Stimuli | Respond to external and internal stimuli e.g., touch, temperature, pain | Do not respond to external stimuli; they transmit signals for muscle and gland activity |
| Examples | Afferent neurons involved in touch, taste, vision, hearing, etc. | Efferent neurons responsible for muscle movement and gland secretion |