Afferent

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Afferent

Afferent (/əˈfɛrənt/; from Latin afferens, from ad- 'to' and ferre 'to carry') refers to the conduction of sensory information from peripheral sensory receptors towards the central nervous system (CNS). It is a term widely used in neurology, physiology, and anatomy.

Etymology

The term afferent is derived from Latin afferens, which is the present participle of affero. Affero is a compound of ad- meaning 'to' and ferre meaning 'to carry'. Thus, afferent essentially means 'carrying to'.

Related Terms

  • Efferent: The term 'efferent' is often used in contrast to 'afferent'. While afferent refers to the conduction of signals towards the CNS, efferent refers to the conduction of signals away from the CNS to the peripheral organs.
  • Sensory neuron: Afferent neurons, also known as sensory neurons, are responsible for transmitting sensory information from the body's tissues and organs to the CNS.
  • Motor neuron: Motor neurons, in contrast, are efferent neurons that transmit signals from the CNS to the muscles and glands.
  • Nervous system: The nervous system, which includes the CNS and the peripheral nervous system, utilizes both afferent and efferent pathways to transmit signals throughout the body.

See Also

External links

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