Sensory Nerve Fiber

Sensory Nerve Fiber

 

a process of a nerve cell (axon), along with its membrane, that conducts excitation from the exteroreceptors and interoreceptors to the central nervous system. Sensory nerve fibers are divided into several groups according to their diameter. For example, among different afferent fibers of muscles, groups 1 to 4 are distinguished. The thickest fibers in the organism (about 20 micrometers with a rate of conduction of about 120 m/sec) belong to group la and terminate in muscle receptors called primary muscle spindle endings. In the specialized literature, sensory nerve fibers are also called afferent nerve fibers (seeAFFERENT NERVE FIBER).