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afferent

American  
[af-er-uhnt] / ˈæf ər ənt /

adjective

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


noun

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

afferent British  
/ 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

"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

afferent Scientific  
/ ăfər-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 Word Forms

  • afferently adverb

Etymology

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These again split to form cortical radiate arteries that radiate out and branch into many afferent arterioles that enter the capillaries supplying the nephrons.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

These again split to form arcuate arteries, from which cortical radiate arteries radiate out and branch into many afferent arterioles that enter the capillaries supplying the nephrons.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

These again split to form arcuate arteries, from which cortical radiate arteries radiate out and branch into many afferent arterioles that enter the capillaries supplying the nephrons.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

For example, the DCT ascending limb of the loop of Henle has masses of cells called macula densa, which are in contact with cells of the afferent arterioles called juxtaglomerular cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In the fish the ventral aorta gives rise to five afferent branchial arteries carrying the blood to the gills, though these may not all come off as independent trunks from the aorta.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various