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. 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

But our skin also has sensors known as C-tactile fibers or afferents that are specifically sensitive to social touch from people and the caress of a loved one.

From Washington Post

Fairhurst, for instance, wears more perfume and spends longer washing her hair – “a direct activation” of her C-tactile afferent nerves, she thinks.

From The Guardian

These fibers, known as “C-tactile afferents” and found on places such as the forearm or back, transmit messages directly and slowly to the central nervous system.

From Washington Post

Stroking the forearm, rich in type C afferents, lit up social brain areas in the controls, but stroking the palm, which contains predominantly type A nerve fibers, had no such effect.

From Science Magazine

C-tactile afferents are “beautifully, exquisitely evolved,” McGlone says, and without the touch that they respond to, babies have weaker neural responses and longer hospital stays and do not gain as much weight.

From Washington Post

Related Words

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