Afferent

Afferent
Carrying toward. A vein is an afferent vessel since it carries blood toward from the heart. An afferent nerve carries impulses toward the central nervous system. The opposite of afferent is efferent.
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Inflowing; conducting toward a center, denoting certain arteries, veins, lymphatics, and nerves. Opposite of efferent. SYN: centripetal (1), esodic. [L. afferens, fr. af-fero, to bring to]

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af·fer·ent 'af-ə-rənt, -.er-ənt adj bearing or conducting inward specif conveying impulses toward the central nervous system compare EFFERENT
af·fer·ent·ly adv
afferent n an afferent anatomical part (as a nerve) <the effect on the hypothalamus of \afferents from the stomach>

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adj.
1. designating nerves or neurones that convey impulses from sense organs and other receptors to the brain or spinal cord, i.e. any sensory nerve or neurone.
2. designating blood vessels that feed a capillary network in an organ or part.
3. designating lymphatic vessels that enter a lymph node. Compare efferent.

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af·fer·ent (afґər-ənt) [L. ad- to + ferre to carry] 1. conveying toward a center; called also centripetal. 2. something that so conducts; see under fiber and nerve. Cf. corticipetal.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Afferent — is an anatomical term with the following meanings: *Conveying towards a center, for example the afferent arterioles conveying blood towards the Bowman s capsule in the Kidney. Opposite to Efferent. *Something that so conducts, see Afferent nerve… …   Wikipedia

  • Afferent — Af fer*ent, a. [L. afferens, p. pr. of afferre; ad + ferre to bear.] (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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • afférent — afférent, ente (a fé ran, ran t ) adj. En termes de droit, il se dit de la part qui revient à chaque intéressé dans un objet indivis. Portion afférente. HISTORIQUE    XIe s. •   Ice plait afierent à la couronne le rei, Lois de Guill. 2.    XIIe s …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • afferent — [af′ər ənt] adj. [< L afferens, prp. of afferre < ad , to + ferre, to BEAR1] Physiol. bringing inward to a central part; specif., designating nerves that transmit impulses to the central nervous system, as to the brain: opposed to EFFERENT… …   English World dictionary

  • afferent — afferent, sensibel, zum Zentrum des Nervensystems hinleitende Strukturen, also a. Neurone, a. Nervenfasern, a. Nerven, a. Bahnen …   Deutsch wörterbuch der biologie

  • afférent — AFFÉRENT, ENTE. adj. Terme de Jurisprudence qui ne s emploie guère qu au féminin et dans ces phrases, Portion afférente, part afférente, pour signifier La part qui revient à chacun des intéressés dans un objet indivis …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • afférent — 1. afférent, ente [ aferɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • XVIIe; altér. de l a. fr. a(u)férant (XIIe), de aferir, impers. il afiert « il convient », lat. affert « cela apporte, contribue », de afferre 1 ♦ Didact. Qui se rapporte à. Renseignements afférents à une… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Afferent — Dieser Artikel befasst sich mit Afferenzen im Nervensystem. Zu den afferenten Blutgefäßen (Vasa afferentia) der Nierenkörperchen (Glomerula) siehe Niere. Afferenz (von lat. affere = hintragen, zuführen; Adjektiv afferent) bezeichnet die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • afferent — I. adjective Etymology: Latin afferent , afferens, present participle of afferre to bring to, from ad + ferre to bear more at bear Date: circa 1847 bearing or conducting inward; specifically conveying impulses toward the central nervous system… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • afferent — Leading towards; afferent nerves lead towards the central nervous system, afferent lymphatics towards the lymph node. The opposite of efferent …   Dictionary of molecular biology

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