when an individual experiences “hunger pains” this is most likely which of the following fibers? a. visceral afferent fibers b. somatic afferent fibers c. somatic efferent fibers d. visceral efferent fibers
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. visceral afferent fibers.
Explanation:
“Hunger pains” or sensations of discomfort related to hunger are signals generated in the internal organs, particularly the stomach, as it responds to the lack of food. The sensation is part of the body’s visceral sensory system, which deals with signals coming from internal organs.
Visceral afferent fibers are the sensory nerve fibers that carry information from the internal organs to the brain. These fibers transmit signals related to physiological states such as hunger, fullness, pain, or stretch from within the body. These signals are usually not consciously perceived unless they are intense enough, such as in the case of hunger pains. Hunger is typically associated with sensations such as an empty feeling or gnawing in the stomach, and these feelings are sent through visceral afferent fibers to the brain.
In contrast, somatic afferent fibers carry sensory information from the skin, muscles, and joints, helping us sense touch, pain, and temperature. These are responsible for sensations like a scraped knee or muscle soreness but not for internal sensations like hunger.
Somatic efferent fibers are responsible for sending motor commands from the brain to the skeletal muscles, allowing voluntary movements. They do not play a role in the sensory process of hunger.
Visceral efferent fibers are part of the autonomic nervous system and are responsible for carrying motor commands to internal organs, helping to regulate processes like digestion or heart rate. They are not involved in the sensation of hunger but rather in the body’s responses to hunger, like releasing digestive enzymes or triggering gastrointestinal motility.
Therefore, hunger pains are processed through the visceral afferent fibers, which send sensory signals from the stomach and intestines to the brain.