somatic nerve


so·mat·ic nerve

one of the nerves of parietal sensation or voluntary motion, as distinguished from the visceral sensory, involuntary motor, and secretory nerves.

so·mat·ic nerve

(sō-mat'ik nĕrv) One of the nerves of parietal sensation or voluntary motion, as distinguished from the visceral sensory, involuntary motor, and secretory nerves.

somatic nerve

A peripheral nerve that contains axons of the dorsal root ganglia or the cranial ganglia (i.e., somatic sensory nerves) or axons of the ventral horn or cranial nuclei motor neurons (i.e., somatic motor nerves). Somatic nerves innervate skin, skeletal muscles, and joints. See also: nerve