Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An effector is a part of the body, such as a muscle or gland, that produces a response to a nerve impulse. It acts to bring about a change in the body's internal environment to maintain homeostasis.
The regulation of an organism's internal environment to maintain stable, life-sustaining conditions.
Nervous system: The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.
Feedback loop: A biological control mechanism where the output of a system acts as an input that modifies the system's behavior, often used to maintain homeostasis