Answer: Sensory neurons (nerves) are the neurons that fire when exposed to outside stimuli. Example: when you touch an ice cube, you feel the coldness of that ice cube. They are the nerves that fire off and send signals to the other nerves. Sensory neurons can be activated through physical and chemical stimuli. Physical stimuli would be sound, touch, heat, light. Chemical would be taste or smell. Nerve cells are the active component in the nervous system. Nerve cells are the basic function of the nervous system. The difference between the two are that sensory neurons (nerves) can activate motor neurons for the muscles can contract. Basically, sensory receptors (which are also neurons) are made up of nerve cells. They both send electrical signals.
