Final answer:
The correct sequence is receptor (sensor) detecting change, sending information to the integrating center, which then signals the effector, typically a muscle or gland, to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A receptor detects a change in a regulated variable and sends that information to a(n) integrating center which relays signals to a(n) effector, usually a muscle or a gland. The correct sequence for this process is: A) sensor : integrating center : effector.
Here is how the process works in steps:
- A receptor or sensor detects a change in the environment or in the body's internal conditions.
- This information is sent to an integrating center, often the brain, which evaluates the change and determines the appropriate response.
- The integrating center then sends signals to an effector, which can be a muscle leading to movements or a gland that secretes hormones, to enact the necessary change to maintain homeostasis.
This process is part of a negative feedback loop used to maintain homeostasis in an organism. The pituitary gland, for example, can be considered a control center in some endocrine feedback loops where it receives signals from the hypothalamus and releases hormones that influence other glands.