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Are muscles and glands part of the central nervous system, receptors, part of the peripheral nervous system, or effectors?

Answer 1

Muscles and glands are effector organs.

Receptors are responsible for receiving stimuli and there are photoreceptor, chemoreceptor, thermoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, etc. in our body.

Receptor organs are associated with special cells which depolarise in presence of stimuli, as a result action potential develops and an impulse starts to travel via a sensory neuron.

When the impulse reaches central nervous system (brain/spinal cord), corresponding motor message is generated and an impulse is delivered via motor neuron to effector organ.

An effector organ could be either a muscle or a gland.

When an impulse reaches a muscle, the muscle contracts.
When an impulse reaches a gland, the gland may secrete its products.

Receptor, sensory neuron, motor neuron and effector: all are part of peripheral nervous system.

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Answer 2

Kai Andersen

In the nervous system, muscles and glands are referred to as effectors.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

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