efferent

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adj.

1. Directed away from a central organ or section.
2. Carrying impulses from the central nervous system to an effector.

n.

An efferent organ or body part, such as a blood vessel.

[From Latin efferēns, efferent-, present participle of efferre, to carry off : ex-, ex- + ferre, to carry.]

efferently ef'fer·ent·ly adv.

(ef′ər-ənt)
adj

Conveying away from a center toward the periphery.

Pertaining to the motor nerves innervating the muscles. Efferent neural signals produce muscle contraction. (Afferent neural signals provide the brain with signals from the senses.)

(Published 1987)

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Conducting or progressing away from a center or specific site of reference, as an efferent nerve.

• e. arterioles — see efferent arteriole.
• e. ductules — conducting tubules from the rete testis to the head of the epididymis, forming part of the transport mechanism for spermatozoa in the testis.
• γ e's — small nerves supplying intrafusal muscle fibers.
• e. nerve — any nerve that carries impulses from the central nervous system toward the periphery, as a motor nerve. See also neuron.

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