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Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Nerve fibers – Classification

Epomedicine, Sep 7, 2020Sep 7, 2020

Last updated on September 7, 2020

Nerve fibers can be classified as A, B and C and A type fibers can be further classified into alpha, beta, gamma and delta. The size and myelination (thus conduction) progressively decreases in the descending order.

muscle spindle model
Neuromechanics / Public domain

A alpha:

  1. Efferent (Somatic motor) – To extrafusal fibers (muscle spindle)
  2. Afferent (Proprioception):
    1. Ia – Muscle spindle (Annulospiral endings)
    2. Ib – Golgi tendon organ

spindLE = LEngth of muscle
TENdon = TENsion of muslcle

A beta:

  • Mechanoafferents of skin (Fine touch, Pressure, Vibration)
  • Type II afferent fibers (secondary fibers from muscle spindle)

A gamma:

Efferents – To intrafusal fibers (muscle spindel)

A delta:

Fast (sharp) pain and Temperature (cold)

B: Preganglionic sympathetic (Autonomic nervous system)

C:

  1. Dorsal root: Slow pain, Temperature (hot)
  2. Sympathetic: Postganglionic
nerve fibers type

Motor fibers:

TypeErlanger-Gasser
Classification
DiameterMyelinConduction velocityAssociated muscle fibers
αAα13–20 μmYes80–120 m/sExtrafusal muscle fibers
γAγ5–8 μmYes4–24 m/sIntrafusal muscle fibers

Afferent fibers:

TypeErlanger-Gasser
Classification
DiameterMyelinConduction velocityAssociated sensory receptors
IaAα13–20 μmYes80–120 m/sMuscle spindle
IbAα13–20 μmYes80–120 m/sGolgi tendon organ
IIAβ6–12 μmYes33–75 m/sSecondary receptors of muscle spindle
All cutaneous mechanoreceptors
IIIAδ1–5 μmThin3–30 m/sFree nerve endings of touch and pressure
Nociceptors of neospinothalamic tract
Cold thermoreceptors
IVC0.2–1.5 μmNo0.5–2.0 m/sNociceptors of paleospinothalamic tract
Warmth receptors

Susceptibilities of the nerve fibers to LA, pressure and hypoxia:

  • A fibers are most susceptible to pressure
  • B fibers are most susceptible to hypoxia
  • C fibers are most susceptible to local anaesthetics
  • C fibers are least susceptible to hypoxia and pressure
  • A fibers are least susceptible to local anaesthetics

If you have any mnemonics or ideas for remembering these, share with the world by writing in the comments.

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PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS AnesthesiaNervous systemPhysiology

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Comments (4)

  1. MERAJ ur rahman says:
    Sep 24, 2020 at 10:40 am

    IT’S help me a lot easy way to learn more in short time .great work

    Reply
  2. Shaina Pinto says:
    Feb 19, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    susceptibility to various agents : HPA axis ( hypoxia , pressure anaesthesia )
    most susceptible to least susceptible
    B A C k
    A B B
    C
    k

    Reply
  3. Karunakar says:
    Aug 25, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    May I know y they are susceptible for particular condition??

    Reply
  4. Alina says:
    May 31, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    i want to know the reason why they are susceptible to those conditions

    Reply

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Epomedicine. Nerve fibers – Classification [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2020 Sep 7 [cited 2025 May 11]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/nerve-fibers-classification/.

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