What type of nerves are afferent nerves?

Afferent nerves are responsible for transmitting sensory information from various parts of the body to the central nervous system (CNS). This includes signals from sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and organs that detect changes in the environment, such as temperature, pressure, pain, and other sensory modalities. By carrying these impulses to the CNS, afferent nerves play a crucial role in establishing the body’s awareness of its internal and external environments, which is foundational for response and reflex actions.

The other options describe functions of different types of nerves. For instance, those that carry impulses from the CNS to organs and muscles are termed efferent nerves, which perform the opposite function of afferent nerves. Transmitting signals to the limbs can involve both afferent and efferent pathways but does not specifically define the role of afferent nerves alone. Thus, understanding that afferent nerves are crucial for relaying sensory information is essential for grasping their role in the nervous system.