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efferent

Pronunciation: /ˈɛf(ə)r(ə)nt/

Definition of efferent

adjective

Physiology
  • conducted or conducting outwards or away from something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied): efferent neurons carry impulses outwards to the effector organsThe opposite of afferent.

noun

  • an efferent nerve fibre or vessel.

Origin:

mid 19th century: from Latin efferent- 'carrying out', from the verb efferre, from ex- 'out' + ferre 'carry'

efferent in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of efferent in the US English dictionary