afferent fiber
Definition
- Noun:
- A nerve fiber that conducts sensory information toward the central nervous system: An afferent fiber is a type of neuron process (axon) that transmits nerve impulses from sensory receptors in the body's periphery (like the skin, muscles, or organs) to the brain or spinal cord.
Usage Notes
- The term "afferent fiber" is used specifically in neuroanatomy and physiology.
- It describes the direction of signal transmission: the central nervous system (CNS).
- It is often contrasted with "efferent fiber," which carries signals the CNS to muscles or glands.
Examples
- Noun:
- The pain was caused by stimulation of an afferent fiber in the skin.
- Sensory information from the hand travels to the spinal cord via afferent fibers.
Advanced Usage
- "Primary afferent fiber": A fiber that connects directly to a sensory receptor and projects to the CNS.
- Primary afferent fibers can be classified by their diameter and conduction velocity.
- "Afferent fiber pathway": Refers to the specific route these fibers take into the CNS.
- The study mapped the afferent fiber pathway from the gut to the brainstem.
Variants and Related Words
- Afferent (adj): Conducting inward or toward a center. Often used to describe nerves, neurons, or signals.
- Afferent signals provide the brain with information about the external environment.
- Afferent neuron (n): A nerve cell whose axon is an afferent fiber; a sensory neuron.
- The cell body of an afferent neuron is located in a dorsal root ganglion.
Synonyms
- Sensory fiber: A nerve fiber that carries sensory information. (Note: While very similar, "sensory fiber" is a broader term that may include some central connections, whereas "afferent fiber" strictly defines the direction of travel from periphery to CNS.)
- Afferent nerve fiber: A more formal, full term with identical meaning.
Related Terms (Not Synonyms)
- Efferent fiber (n): A nerve fiber that carries impulses the central nervous system to an effector (e.g., a muscle or gland).
- Interneuron (n): A neuron that transmits impulses between other neurons, often within the CNS.
Noun
-
a nerve fiber that carries impulses toward the central nervous system
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