Small-nerve Fibers in Mammalian Ventral Roots.

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Abstract
The lumbosacral ventral root outflow of the cat contains about 25% small diam. (3-9p) nerve fibers which conduct at rates of 15-50 m/sec. The function of these is different from the larger motor fibers in that they cause no detectable twitches or shortening of muscles and do not set up propagated muscle impulses. In contrast, ventral root fibers conducting at rates between 50-120 m/sec. set up the well-known motor unit response. Stimulation of the small nerve fibers sets up discharges from muscle spindle receptors. The discharge is dependent upon the number and frequency of the stimuli and on adjustment of muscle stretch. This indicates that small ventral root nerve fibers innervate the intrafusal muscle spindles.

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