afferent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a nerve that passes impulses from receptors toward or to the central nervous system
    afferent nerve; sensory nerve.
  2. adjective of nerves and nerve impulses; conveying sensory information from the sense organs to the CNS
    • afferent nerves
    • afferent impulses

WordNet

Af"fer*ent adjective
Etymology
L. afferens, p. pr. of afferre; ad + ferre to bear.
Definitions
  1. (Physiol.) Bearing or conducting inwards to a part or organ; -- opposed to efferent; as, afferent vessels; afferent nerves, which convey sensations from the external organs to the brain.

Webster 1913