afferent nerve
A diagram shows an afferent nerve carrying signals from the skin to the spinal cord.
- Noun:
- A sensory nerve fiber that carries nerve impulses from sensory receptors towards the central nervous system: An "afferent nerve" is a type of nerve that transmits sensory information (such as touch, temperature, or pain) from the body's periphery (e.g., skin, organs) to the brain or spinal cord for processing.
- Noun:
- The pain was caused by a signal traveling along an afferent nerve to the spinal cord.
- Afferent nerves are crucial for the body's ability to sense its environment.
"Afferent nerve fiber": A more specific term referring to the individual axon within a nerve that carries sensory information inward.
- Each afferent nerve contains many afferent nerve fibers from different receptors.
"Afferent pathway": The route or neural circuit through which sensory information travels from a receptor to the central nervous system.
- The afferent pathway for vision involves the optic nerve.
Afferent (adj): Carrying inward to a central organ or section. Often used to describe nerves, neurons, or blood vessels.
- Afferent neurons have their cell bodies located outside the spinal cord.
Sensory nerve (n): A common synonym for "afferent nerve," though "sensory nerve" is a broader term that can refer to the entire nerve bundle containing afferent fibers.
- Sensory nerve: A nerve that conveys sensory information.
- Afferent neuron: A nerve cell that conducts impulses from a sense organ to the central nervous system.
- Afferent fiber: The specific conductive fiber within a nerve.
Afferent vs. Efferent: A fundamental anatomical and physiological distinction. "Afferent" nerves carry signals to the CNS, while "efferent" nerves carry signals away from the CNS to muscles and glands.
- The reflex arc involves both an afferent nerve and an efferent nerve.
Afferent loop: A term sometimes used in medical contexts (e.g., describing part of the digestive system after certain surgeries), but it is not directly related to neural function.
A diagram shows an afferent nerve carrying signals from the skin to the spinal cord.
- a nerve that passes impulses from receptors toward or to the central nervous system