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afferent nerve fibre

anatomy
Also known as: sensory nerve fibre

Quick Summary

Afferent nerve fibers are sensory pathways within the peripheral nervous system that transmit impulses from receptors to the central nervous system. These fibers originate from sensory ganglia, which are clusters of nerve cell bodies located on the dorsal roots of spinal nerves and cranial nerves.12

There are two main types of afferent fibers:
* General somatic afferent fibers: These carry sensory information from the body surface, muscles, tendons, and joints, responding to stimuli like pain, temperature, touch, pressure, and body position.1
* General visceral afferent fibers: These transmit sensory information from internal organs in the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis, such as pain signals from the digestive tract.1

Receptors, which convert environmental energy into electrical impulses, are connected to the central nervous system via these afferent nerve fibers.3

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