General visceral efferent fiber explained

General visceral efferent fibers (GVE), visceral efferents or autonomic efferents are the efferent nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system (also known as the visceral efferent nervous system) that provide motor innervation to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands (contrast with special visceral efferent (SVE) fibers) through postganglionic varicosities.^{[1] [2]}

GVE fibers may be either sympathetic or parasympathetic.^[3] Cranial and sacral spinal fibers are parasympathetic GVE fibers, while thoracic and lumbar spinal cord give rise to sympathetic GVE fibers.^[4]

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).^[5]

See also

• Nerve fiber
• Preganglionic fibers
• Efferent nerve
• General somatic efferent fiber (GSE)
• Special visceral efferent fiber (SVE)

Notes and References

1. Book: Drake, Vogl, Mitchell. Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Edition. 2010. Elsevier.
2. Web site: Organization of the Nervous System SEER Training . training.seer.cancer.gov . 19 May 2021.
3. Book: Drake, Vogl, Mitchell. Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Edition. 2010. Elsevier.
4. Book: Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice . . 2015-10-09 . 978-0702052309 . 41st . Fig. 16.11 Efferent pathways of the autonomic nervous system. . en.
5. Mehta, Samir et al. Step-Up: A High-Yield, Systems-Based Review for the USMLE Step 1. Baltimore, MD: LWW, 2003.