afferents

/ˈaf(ə)r(ə)nt/

adjective

Conducting or conducted inwards or towards something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied).

Cough is mediated by the interaction of sensory afferent nerves, central cough reflexes, and local axon reflexes.

noun

An afferent nerve fibre or vessel.

It may also be the site of projection of proprioceptive afferents from the respiratory muscles and chest wall.