afferent

[ af-er-uhnt ]

adjective

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

noun

1. a nerve carrying a message toward the central nervous system.

afferent

/ ˈæfərənt /

adjective

1. See efferent
   bringing or directing inwards to a part or an organ of the body, esp towards the brain or spinal cord Compare efferent

afferent

/ ăf′ər-ənt /

1. 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.
2. Compare efferent

Other Words From

• affer·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of afferent¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of afferent¹

C19: from Latin afferre to carry to, from ad- to + ferre to carry

Example Sentences

Hence one of the goals to which each afferent fibre from a receptive organ leads is a number of motor nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

The spinal cord is like an upturned tree, with man's hair as its roots, and afferent and efferent nerves as branches.

From Project Gutenberg

Dissect along the truncus arteriosus to afferent branchials.

From Project Gutenberg

There are two divisions of nerves, the afferent and efferent.

From Project Gutenberg

From the gills the afferent branchials carry the blood to the median dorsal aorta.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• olfactory
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual