Which type of nerve is responsible for the sensation of pain?

The sensation of pain is primarily carried by sensory nerves, which are also known as afferent nerves. These nerves are specifically designed to transmit sensory information from various parts of the body to the central nervous system. When tissue damage or injury occurs, specialized receptors, called nociceptors, are activated, signaling the presence of pain. Once activated, sensory nerves relay this information through the spinal cord to the brain, where the sensation of pain is perceived and can be processed for appropriate responses.

Motor nerves, in contrast, are responsible for carrying signals from the central nervous system to muscles, facilitating movement. Interneurons serve as connectors between sensory and motor pathways within the central nervous system, playing a critical role in reflex responses but not directly transmitting pain sensations. Reflex nerves, while related to the rapid reactions of the body to stimuli (often involving both sensory and motor functions), do not specifically account for the sensation of pain in the way that sensory nerves do.