Innervation of the Developing Heart

Abstract The heart has both AFFERENT (sensory) and EFFERENT (motor) innervation (Fig. 13.1). The motor innervation is part of the autonomic nervous system, which provides efferent information to all of the viscera. Because of the integration of signals that is now recognized in the AUTONOMIC GANGLIA, there has been a tendency to include the afferent nerves as part of the autonomic nervous system; however, this discussion maintains the classical separation, and the sensory innervation is considered as separate from the autonomic motor innervation.