The term general visceral efferents (GVE) refers to the visceral efferent fibers of brainstem neurons that project through cranial nerves (the oculomotor nerve, the facial nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve or the vagus nerve) or preganglionic neurons of the spinal cord that project to postganglionic visceral efferent neurons. These postganglionic cells innervate the smooth muscle and glandular epithelium of the body ( Carpenter-1983 ).