afferent

[ af-er-uh nt ]
/ ˈæf ər ənt /
Physiology
SEE SYNONYMS FOR afferent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

bringing to or leading toward an organ or part, as a nerve or arteriole (opposed to efferent).

noun

a nerve carrying a message toward the central nervous system.

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Origin of afferent

1830–40; < Latin afferent- (stem of afferēns, present participle of afferre), equivalent to af- af- + fer- (stem of ferre to carry) + -ent- -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM afferent

af·fer·ent·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH afferent

afferent efferent

Words nearby afferent

affective disorder, affective fallacy, affective psychosis, affectless, affenpinscher, afferent, afferent fiber, afferent glomerular arteriole, afferent nerve, afferent vessel, afferent-loop syndrome
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to afferent

auditory, visual, sensual, tactile, sonic, neurological, neural, audiovisual, olfactory, aural, sensational, acoustic, audible, auricular, clear, discernible, distinct, ocular, perceptible, plain

Example sentences from the Web for afferent

British Dictionary definitions for afferent

afferent
/ (ˈæfərənt) /

adjective

bringing or directing inwards to a part or an organ of the body, esp towards the brain or spinal cordCompare efferent

Word Origin for afferent

C19: from Latin afferre to carry to, from ad- to + ferre to carry
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for afferent

afferent
[ ăf′ər-ənt ]

adj.

Carrying inward to a central organ or section, as nerves that conduct impulses from the periphery of the body to the brain or spinal cord.

n.

An afferent organ or body part, such as a blood vessel.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for afferent

afferent
[ ăf′ər-ənt ]

Carrying sensory information toward a central organ or part, as a nerve that conducts impulses from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system. Compare efferent.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.