2.3.

Nervous Coordination Receptors and effectors Receptors are sensory cells inside the sensory organs which can detect stimuli and convert them into electrical impulses. Eg. The pain and pressure receptors in the skin or the light receptors in the retina Effectors refer to the muscles and glands in the body that bring about responses to the stimuli. The muscles respond by contracting whereas the glands respond by secreting substances. A stimulus is any change which occurs outside or inside the human body which brings about a response. Receptors inside sensory organs detect stimuli. Then, information in the form of electrical impulses is sent out along sensory neurons to the central nervous system. The brain processes impulses and decides what to do. It then sends out impulses along the motor neurons to effectors. The effectors then bring about a response. Reflex Action and Reflex Arc A reflex action is a fast and automatic response to a stimulus It is involuntary action which does not involve conscious thought or decision through the brain The path through which impulses travel quickly from the receptor to the effector in a reflex action is called the reflex arc. A reflex arc consists of the; a)receptor (sensory organ) b)sensory neurone c) relay neurone (in the central nervous system) d)motor neurone e)effector (muscle or gland)

1. The sensory neurons in the skin (receptors) are stimulated by heat from the object. 2. Impulses are produced and they travel along the sensory neurones to the spinal cord. 3. In the spinal cord, the impulses are transferred to the relay neurones, and then to the motor neurones.