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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A muscle or gland that carries out a response; a muscle contracts or a gland releases a substance.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Paper 2
A muscle or gland that brings about a response.
Revise: Principles of HomeostasisEffectors are muscles or glands that bring about the response. Muscles can contract, while glands can release substances. Their activity helps restore optimum internal levels.
A muscle or gland that carries out a response: a muscle contracts, while a gland secretes a substance such as a hormone.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Revise: The Nervous SystemThe CNS coordinates a response by sending impulses to an effector. Effectors are muscles or glands: muscles contract, while glands release substances.
Distinguish the roles: receptors detect changes, coordination centres process information, and effectors carry out responses.
Name muscles or glands as effectors, not the brain or spinal cord.
For a reflex pathway, give the neurones in order: sensory → relay → motor. Include the receptor and effector when describing the whole response.
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