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Which sensations do general somatic afferent fibers carry to the central nervous system?
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human nervous system
The conduction of electrochemical stimuli from sensory receptors in the human nervous system occurs via organized groups of specialized cells, consisting largely of neurons, various neural support cells, and tracts of nerve fibers.
General somatic afferent fibers are responsible for carrying several types of sensory information to the central nervous system. These fibers are sensitive to the following sensations:
- Pain
- Thermal sensation (temperature)
- Touch and pressure
- Changes in the position of the body
Sensory information regarding pain and temperature that originates from the surface of the body is classified as exteroceptive. In contrast, sensory information that arises from deeper structures, such as tendons, muscles, or joint capsules, is referred to as proprioceptive.1