What is the difference between sensory and motor nerves?

TheAlphaWolf

Sensory nerves gather information of the environment and send it to the brain, and motor nerves tell muscles to contract, thereby making you move. Jun 23 05, 5:24 PM

gmackematix

So the main difference is that sensory nerves have cells called sensory neurons. These have special sensory receptors in their cell membranes that convert information such as smell, light, temperature, etc., depending on the type of nerve, into electrical impulses which travel down the nerve, either to the central nervous system or to directly trigger motor nerves (a reflex). Motor nerves have special motor neurons. These have a special junction or synapse with muscles, releasing specific neurotransmitters that cause muscle fibres to contract. Jun 24 05, 1:37 AM