Receptors and Effectors Flashcards

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In biology, what is a stimulus?

A stimulus is a change in the internal or external environment that can be detected.

What is a receptor cell?

A receptor cell is a specialised cell that detects a stimulus and starts an electrical message in a nerve.

Where are most receptor cells found in the body?

Most receptor cells are grouped in sense organs, such as the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.

For each sense organ, name one main stimulus it detects: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin.

Eyes detect light. Ears detect sound and help with balance. The nose detects chemicals in the air (smells). The tongue detects chemicals in food (tastes). The skin detects touch, pressure, pain and temperature.

What is an effector?

An effector is an organ, such as a muscle or gland, that carries out the response to a nerve message.

What are the two main types of effector and what does each do?

Muscles are effectors that contract to cause movement. Glands are effectors that release (secrete) substances such as hormones or enzymes.

Put these in order to show a simple nervous response: effector, stimulus, response, central nervous system, receptor.

Stimulus → receptor → central nervous system → effector → response.

In a simple example of touching a hot object, name the stimulus, one receptor, and one effector involved.

The stimulus is the high temperature from the hot object. Receptors in the skin detect the heat. Muscles in the arm act as effectors and contract to pull your hand away.

What is meant by an internal stimulus and an external stimulus? Give one example of each.

An internal stimulus is a change inside the body, such as a drop in body temperature. An external stimulus is a change outside the body, such as light getting brighter.

How is the role of a receptor different from the role of an effector?

A receptor detects a stimulus and starts a nerve message. An effector receives the message and produces the response.

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