Final answer:
The sensory function of the nervous system is responsible for monitoring environmental phenomena such as light, sound, and temperature, and processing this information to maintain homeostasis and respond to changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nervous system has a crucial role in perceiving information about the external environment, a process known as sensation. Through sensory functions, it registers stimuli which could be changes deviating from a state of balance in the body or specific occurrences in the surrounding environment. We commonly recognize five major senses: taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing. These senses correspond to various types of stimuli, with taste and smell detecting chemical substances like molecules and compounds, touch responding to mechanical forces or objects contacting the skin, sight being activated by light, and hearing involving the perception of sound waves.
Beyond these, there are additional senses such as proprioception and the internal detection of stimuli like the stretching of organs or shifts in blood ion concentrations. Integrating sensory information with cognitive processes like memory, emotion, and learning enables the nervous system to produce an appropriate response to the stimuli it receives.