afférente

Afférente is an anatomical term used to describe structures or pathways that carry signals toward a central nervous system or toward a receptor. In many languages, including French, the term denotes sensory or inbound information, in contrast to efférent (efferent), which describes outgoing signals from the central nervous system to effectors.

In the nervous system, nerfs afférents are sensory nerves that transmit information from peripheral receptors to the brain or spinal cord. This afferent flow enables perception of touch, temperature, pain, and body position, as well as internal states such as organ fullness or chemical composition. The term contrasts with efférent pathways, which carry motor commands or regulatory signals away from the CNS to muscles, glands, or other effectors.

Anatomically, many afférent pathways begin with first-order neurons whose cell bodies reside in sensory ganglia (such as dorsal root ganglia for somatic and visceral afferents, or cranial nerve ganglia). The peripheral processes detect stimuli, while the central processes enter the spinal cord or brainstem to synapse with second-order neurons, forming ascending pathways that convey information to higher brain centers. Somatic afferents include mechanoreceptors, nociceptors, thermoreceptors, and proprioceptors; visceral afferents convey information from internal organs and autonomic structures.

Clinically, afferent pathways are essential for sensation and reflexes. Damage to afférent fibers can produce sensory loss or altered pain and temperature perception, while intact afferent signaling is required for reflex arcs and conscious perception. The afférente and efférente divisions are fundamental to understanding neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, and the term is commonly used in French-language anatomical literature.