efferent
/ˈɛf(ə)r(ə)nt
/adjective Physiology
Conducted or conducting outwards or away from something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied): efferent neurons carry impulses outwards to the effector organs...The opposite of afferent.
- During lung transplantation, both the afferent and efferent nerves that supply the lung are severed.
- Anterior or efferent nerve roots convey efferent impulses from the spinal cord to the body, and posterior nerve roots convey afferent or sensory input from skin regions to the spinal cord.
- The axons of both classes of interneuron enter the brain via the ocellar nerve, which also carries the axons of efferent neurons.
noun
An efferent nerve fibre or vessel.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin efferent- 'carrying out', from the verb efferre, from ex- 'out' + ferre 'carry'.