The term "sensory nerve" refers to a type of nerve that carries sensory information from the body to the brain. The spelling of this word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) pronunciation guide, with the "s" sound at the beginning represented by the IPA symbol /s/, followed by the vowel sound "EH" represented by /ɛ/, and ending with the consonant sound "ry" represented by /ɹi/. The vowel sound at the end of the word is spelled with the letter "y" but pronounced as the sound "ee" (/i/).
A sensory nerve is a type of nerve in the body that carries sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system. It is part of the peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for transmitting signals between the body and the brain and spinal cord. Sensory nerves are specialized to detect and transmit different types of sensory information such as touch, temperature, pain, and pressure.
These nerves have specialized receptor cells located in various parts of the body, such as the skin, muscles, and organs. When these receptor cells are stimulated by external stimuli or internal changes, they generate electrical signals that are then transmitted through the sensory nerves to the spinal cord and brain. The brain then processes this information, allowing us to perceive and interpret our surroundings.
Sensory nerves can be further divided into specific types based on the type of sensory information they transmit. For example, there are specialized sensory nerves involved in carrying information related to touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and proprioception (the sense of body position and movement). Each type of sensory nerve has distinct characteristics and functions that enable us to experience and respond to different sensory stimuli in our environment.
In summary, sensory nerves play a crucial role in detecting and transmitting sensory information from various parts of the body to the central nervous system, allowing us to perceive and interpret sensations. They are essential for our ability to feel, touch, smell, taste, and interact with the world around us.
• An afferent n. conveying stimuli from the outer world which are translated by the central nervous system into the conciousness of sensation.
• An afferent nerve, one which transmits peripheral stimuli to the sensorium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "sensory" originates from the Latin term "sensus", which means "feeling" or "perception". The word "nerve" comes from the Latin word "nervus", meaning "sinew" or "tendon". The term "sensory nerve" therefore describes a type of nerve that is involved in sensing or perceiving external stimuli.