Renshaw cell

The Renshaw cells the American neurophysiologist Birdsey Renshaw (1911-1948) were on their first describer named.

It is inhibitory (inhibitory ) interneurons with the transmitter glycine in the anterior horns of the gray matter of the spinal cord. They are arousing of collaterals ( branches ) innervates the axons of alpha motor neurons (those neurons that directly innervate the muscles), and of neurons that descend from the brain to the spinal cord ( project ). Your part to practice the Renshaw cells from an inhibitory influence on the she innervating alpha motoneuron. They thus exert a negative feedback.

Functionally, these cells are so involved in the decline ( recurrent ) inhibition of alpha motor neuron. In contrast to the inhibition of supraspinal input (ie, higher, above the spinal cord) inhibitory influences is called the inhibition by the Renshaw cells as a starting inhibition. This declining inhibition may serve:

• The self-protection of the muscle. The stronger is the innervation of the muscle, the stronger the inhibitory feedback, which provides a reduction of innervation.
• Micro-coordination of the distal ( far - hull ) shares of the extremities, mainly the hands. Via regulation of the sensitivity of Renshaw cell modulation of power is possible. If these cells are set from the brain very sensitive, very small movements (eg, fingers) are possible.