efferent

Examples of efferent in the following topics:

• Lymph Transport

  • The sinuses converge at the hilum of the node, and lymph then leaves the lymph node via an efferent lymphatic vessel towards either a more central lymph node or towards a lymph duct for drainage into one of the subclavian veins.
  • The lymphocytes are transported through lymph fluid, and will leave the node through the efferent vessels to travel to other parts of the body to perform adaptive immune response functions.
  • After leaving the lymph node through efferent vessels, they will flow lymph to another node further into the body, or to a lymph trunk, which is the larger vessel where many efferent vessels converge into.
  • The lymph flows from the afferent vessels into the sinuses of the lymph node, and then out of the node through the efferent vessels.

• Autonomic Reflexes

  • The ANS is unique in that it requires a sequential two-neuron efferent pathway; the preganglionic neuron must first synapse onto a postganglionic neuron before innervating the target organ.
  • This schematic (but not anatomically correct) depiction of a typical spinal nerve indicates (1) somatic efferent fibers, (2) somatic afferent fibers, (3-5) sympathetic efferent fibers, and (6,7) sympathetic afferent fibers.

• Testes Ducts

  • The efferent ducts connect the rete testis with the initial section of the epididymis.
  • There are two basic types of efferent ductule structure.
  • In humans and other large mammals, there are approximately 15-20 efferent ducts which also occupy nearly one-third of the head of the epididymis.

• Pons

  • Basal plate neuroblasts give rise to the abducens nucleus (forms the general somatic efferent fibers), the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei (form the special visceral efferent column), and the superior salivatory nucleus, which forms the general visceral efferent fibers of the facial nerve.

• Glossopharyngeal (IX) Nerve

  • Visceral motor (general visceral efferent) - provides parasympathetic innervation of the parotid gland.

• Parasympathetic (Craniosacral) Division

  • The motor root carries presynaptic parasympathetic nerve fibers (general visceral efferent fibers) that terminate in the ganglion by synapsing the postsynaptic fibers traveling to target organs.
  • The sympathetic root carries postsynaptic sympathetic fibers (general visceral efferent fibers) that traverse the ganglion without synapsing.

• Glomerular Filtration

  • The size of the filtration slits restricts the passage of large molecules (eg, albumin) and cells (eg, red blood cells and platelets), which are the non-filterable component of blood, which then leave the glomerulus through the efferent arteriole, which becomes capillaries meant for kidney oxygen exchange and reabsorption before becoming venous circulation.
  • Diagram showing the afferent and efferent arterioles bringing blood in and out of the Bowman's capsule, a cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron.

• Function and Physiology of the Spinal Nerves

  • The somatic nervous system, consisting of afferent and efferent nerves, is associated with skeletal muscle voluntary control of body movements.
  • The afferent nerves are responsible for relaying sensation from the body to the central nervous system (CNS), while the efferent nerves are responsible for sending out commands from the CNS to the body, stimulating muscle contraction. 
  • Numbers indicate types of nerve fibers: 1 somatic efferent, 2 somatic afferent, 3-5 sympathetic efferent, 6-7 sympathetic afferent.

• Lymph Trunks and Ducts

  • After filtration by the lymph nodes, efferent lymphatic vessels take lymph to the end of the lymphatic system.
  • A lymphatic trunk is any large lymph vessel that forms from the convergence of many efferent lymph vessels.

• Preganglionic Neurons

  • The ANS is unique in that it requires a sequential two-neuron efferent pathway; the preganglionic neuron must first synapse onto a postganglionic neuron before innervating the target organ.
  • These cell bodies are GVE (general visceral efferent) neurons and are the preganglionic neurons.