Colorado Cosmetology Written Practice Exam

What do sensory nerves do?

1. Carry information from the spinal cord to the muscles

2. Send signals from the brain to the heart

3. Carry information from sense receptors to the spinal cord and brain

4. Transmit impulses between different neurons

The correct answer is: Carry information from the spinal cord to the muscles

The correct understanding of sensory nerves is that they are responsible for carrying information from sense receptors—such as those involved in hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell—directly to the spinal cord and brain. This process enables the brain to interpret these signals, allowing us to perceive our surrounding environment. In contrast to the choice that was provided, options that suggest carrying information from the spinal cord to the muscles, sending signals from the brain to the heart, and transmitting impulses between neurons are more aligned with the functions of motor nerves or other types of neural pathways. Motor nerves carry signals away from the central nervous system to initiate movement, and other specialized neuron types facilitate communication within the nervous system. Thus, the role of sensory nerves is distinct and crucial in the sensory perception process.