Question

In the context of physiological processes, which of the following statements accurately distinguishes between effector and afferent cells?

A) Effector cells receive signals from the environment and transmit them to the central nervous system.

B) Afferent cells carry impulses away from the central nervous system to initiate a response.

C) Effector cells are responsible for detecting stimuli and transmitting signals to the brain.

D) Afferent cells are involved in carrying signals from the brain to muscles or glands to produce a response.

Answer 1

Afferent cells carry impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS, detecting stimuli and effector cells initiate responses, such as muscle contractions or gland secretions, based on CNS signals.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of physiological processes, the distinction between effector cells and afferent cells is that effector cells are responsible for carrying out responses in the body, while afferent cells are involved in sensing environmental stimuli and conveying this information to the central nervous system (CNS). Specifically, afferent cells, or sensory neurons, carry impulses from sensory receptors towards the CNS. These cells detect physical stimuli, such as touch, light, and sound, and convert them into nerve impulses.

On the other hand, effector cells are the cells and organs that actually carry out the responses to stimuli, as directed by neural impulses from the CNS. For example, muscle cells contract or relax, and glands can secrete hormones or other substances, based on the signals from motor (efferent) neurons.

Therefore, the correct distinction is that afferent cells carry impulses from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system, and effector cells receive signals from the central nervous system to initiate a response, typically in the form of muscle contraction or glandular secretion.