Neurons have complex and extended morphologies compared to other cell types, and within the CNS, neurons can vary greatly in their properties. MNs are unique cells amongst neurons because they are large, even by neuronal standards, with very long axons, up to 1 m in length in an adult human. MNs can be distinguished into two main categories according to their location in the CNS: upper MNs (UMNs) located in the cortex, and lower MNs (LMNs) located in the brainstem and spinal cord. The spinal MNs comprise both visceral MNs of the thoracic and sacral regions, which control autonomic functions, and somatic MNs, which regulate the contraction of skeletal muscles and thus control movement. The diversity of MNs reflects the variety of targets they innervate, including a wide range of muscle fiber types. UMNs and LMNs differ in the location of their cell bodies, the neurotransmitters released, their targeting and symptoms resulting from their injury.