They consist of a rounded cell body and are present in the “ganglia” of the peripheral organs. These neurons do not possess dendrites, which are the main characteristics of a typical neuron. The axon then divides into two branches- the long branch towards the peripheral nervous system, which includes various sensory organs and glands, and a short branch to the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord. They are also known as “pseudounipolar neurons” as they consist of only one axon extending from the cell body. The basic structure of an afferent neuron involves only one prolongation from its cell body. These types of neurons play a vital role in voluntary muscular movements in the body. The cell bodies of these neurons are present near the brain and the spinal cord where they enter via its dorsal root. Then the brain sent a signal or response through the efferent neurons to the rest part of the body to control the activity. When they are capable of sensing and detecting the type of stimulus, they then send information about the stimulus to the brain where the sensory information is processed and interpreted. Unlike efferent neurons that carry impulses away from the CNS to the periphery, afferent neurons bring the signals from the outside stimuli and inform the brain about the type of stimulus. Then they carry those sensory impulses from the receptors present in the sensory organs, muscles, or glands towards the spinal cord and then to the brain. These neurons detect and receive information from the outside stimulus, which may be a feeling of touch, pain, smell, taste, heat, cold, or sound and vision.
They can respond to a variety of stimuli. Afferent neurons are also known as “sensory neurons” because their function is to sense or detect the stimuli. They act as a medium or pathway for the transmission of sensory impulses or signals from the peripheral tissues to the CNS, which include the brain and the spinal cord.
They are the neurons or nerve fibers that conduct nerve impulses towards the CNS from the PNS. Afferent neurons are one of the major parts of the “peripheral nervous system” (PNS) in human beings, as well as in other vertebrates and invertebrates.
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