General somatic fibers

General somatic fibers are a type of nerve fiber that transmit sensory information from the body to the central nervous system. They are part of the peripheral nervous system and are involved in the sensation of touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception.

Anatomy

General somatic fibers originate from sensory receptors located throughout the body, excluding the special senses such as vision, hearing, taste, and smell. These fibers are classified into two types: afferent and efferent. Afferent fibers carry sensory information from the body to the central nervous system, while efferent fibers transmit motor commands from the central nervous system to the body.

Function

The primary function of general somatic fibers is to transmit sensory information from the body to the central nervous system. This information includes touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement.

Clinical significance

Damage to the general somatic fibers can result in a loss of sensation or motor function, depending on the type of fiber affected. Conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and multiple sclerosis can affect these fibers, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, and muscle weakness.

See also

• Nervous system
• Sensory neuron
• Motor neuron