Question:medium

Slow conduction velocity is seen with which one of the following nerve fibers?

Show Hint

Slowest = thin unmyelinated C fibers - which autonomic fibers fall in that class?
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Preganglionic autonomic nerve fibers
  • Postganglionic autonomic nerve fibers
  • Motor nerves
  • Sympathetic nerve fibers
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Conduction speed rises with fiber thickness and with myelin, so the slowest impulses travel along the thinnest unmyelinated fibers.
Step 2: Those thinnest fibers are the C fibers, measuring under one micrometre across and lacking myelin, with velocities as low as $0.2$ to $2$ m/s.
Step 3: The autonomic fibers that belong to this slow C class are the postganglionic fibers, which is why they conduct most slowly of the options listed.
Step 4: Preganglionic autonomic fibers are myelinated type B and faster, somatic motor fibers are large fast A-alpha, and lumping all sympathetic fibers together still includes the quicker B fibers. The slowest, therefore, are postganglionic autonomic fibers.
\[\boxed{\text{Postganglionic autonomic nerve fibers}}\]
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