The Normal Nerve

Abstract

The peripheral nerve is the “cable” used by the motor, sensory and vegetative neurons’ axons to circulate in the peripheral nervous system. It conveys information between these neurons and their effectors in both directions (sensitive receptors, skeletal muscles and viscera). The afferents towards the periphery correspond to the motor and autonomous functions of the nerve, whilst the efferents, originating from the periphery and in charge of carrying information towards the central nervous system, correspond to the sensory nucleus of the nerve. The information is transmitted as nerve impulses, the properties of which depend on, amongst other things, the intrinsic characteristics of the nerve itself.