what is an effector
Andrew Henderson
Updated on July 27, 2026
Effectors are parts of the body – such as muscles and glands – that produce a response to a detected stimulus. For example: a muscle contracting to move an arm. muscle squeezing saliva from the salivary gland.
What is a effector simple definition?
Definition of effector
1 : one that causes or brings about something an effector of change … sheer force of personality as an effector of discipline …—
What is effector in nervous system?
Muscles and glands are called effectors because they cause an effect in response to directions from the nervous system. This is the motor output or motor function.
What is an effector in cell biology?
In the immune system, effector cells are the relatively short-lived activated cells that defend the body in an immune response. Effector B cells are called plasma cells and secrete antibodies, and activated T cells include cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells, which carry out cell-mediated responses.
What is receptor and effector?
A receptor detects the stimuli and converts it into an impulse and an effector converts the impulse into an action. An example of a receptor is a light receptor in the eye which detects changes in light in the environment. An example of an effector is a muscle.
What are types of effectors?
There are two types of effectors, the muscles (also called “motor effectors”) and exocrine glands (also called “secretory efectors”). All effectors are stimulated by nerves ie are “innervated”.
What is an effector quizlet?
Definition of Effector. *An organ, cell or tissue that acts in response to a stimuli (muscle or gland)
What is effector in homeostasis?
Effector is the cell, tissue, or organ that responds to signals from the control center, thus providing a response to the stimulus (physiological variable that changed) in order to maintain homeostasis.
What is an effector in physiology?
In physiology, “effector” usually means “a tissue or organ (like muscle or liver) that carries out an action and thus produces an effect.” In this example, the effectors = organs that act to raise or lower the blood glucose.
Where is effector and receptor?
Receptors are found in sensory organs such as ears, eyes, nose, mouth and internal organs. They receive stimuli and convert into nerve impulse and send to the central nervous system for interpretation and processing. Effectors are the muscles and glands that produce an action in response to the stimulus.
Is the eye an effector?
The muscles are generally divided into two groupings: somatic effectors, which are the body’s striated muscles (such as those found in the arm and back), and autonomic effectors, which are smooth muscles (such as the iris of the eye).
Are nervous cells effector?
effector neuron A nerve cell, such as a motor neuron, that transmits impulses from the central nervous system to an effector in order to bring about a physiological response to changes in the environment.
What are effector organs?
n. 1. an organ, such as a muscle or a gland, that responds to neural stimulation by producing a particular physical response or initiating a specific physiological event. 2.
What tissue is the effector?
An effector is a tissue structure, namely a muscle or gland, that responds to an efferent impulse. An efferent impulse is a biochemical and electrical impulse that travels via nerve fibers away from the central nervous system.
What is a receptor in biology?
Listen to pronunciation. (reh-SEP-ter) A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific effect in the cell.
How the effectors cause action or movement?
The effected muscles cause action because motor nerve impulses sent by the spinal cord or brain reach the effector organ. The muscles are able to move or act in response to electrical nerve impulse because muscles are made of muscle cells. These cells contain special protein which can change their shape and contract.
What are types of receptors?
There are two types of receptors: internal receptors and cell-surface receptors.
Is skeletal muscle an effector?
Skeletal muscle has long been considered as an effector organ under the control of neural and humoral regulation. Recent studies indicated that skeletal muscle is not only an effector organ but also an endocrine organ.