Afferent Pathway

An afferent pathway is a communication route that carries sensory information from the body’s sensors (like skin, muscles, and internal organs) to the brain and spinal cord. When you feel something—such as heat, pressure, touch, or pain—this information travels along nerves via the afferent pathway. It’s part of the nervous system’s way of informing the brain about what’s happening in your body and environment so you can respond appropriately. Essentially, afferent pathways are the highways for sensory signals traveling from the periphery to the central nervous system.