General visceral efferent fibers

The term general efferent fibers (GVE or visceral efferent or autonomic efferent) refers to the efferent neurons of the autonomic nervous system that provide motor innervation to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands (contrast with SVE fibers) through postganglionic varicosities.[1]

General visceral efferent fibers
Scheme showing structure of a typical spinal nerve.
1. Somatic efferent.
2. Somatic afferent.
3,4,5. Sympathetic efferent.
6,7. Sympathetic afferent.
Anatomical terminology

GVE fibers may be either sympathetic or parasympathetic.[2]

The cranial nerves containing GVE fibers include the oculomotor nerve (CN III), the facial nerve (CN VII), the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and the vagus nerve (CN X).[3]

Additional images
  • Sympathetic connections of the ciliary and superior cervical ganglia.

See also

References
  1. Drake, Vogl, Mitchell (2010). Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Edition. Elsevier.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Drake, Vogl, Mitchell (2010). Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Edition. Elsevier.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Mehta, Samir et al. Step-Up: A High-Yield, Systems-Based Review for the USMLE Step 1. Baltimore, MD: LWW, 2003.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 849 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)


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