Final answer:
A gland serves as an effector in a reflex loop, responding to signals from a control center to maintain homeostasis by adjusting secretions in accordance with negative feedback mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A gland can act as an effector, which is a component of a reflex loop that responds to an integrating center. In the context of a reflex arc and homeostatic control mechanisms, an effector is typically a muscle or gland that elicits a response to a signal provided by a control center. When a receptor detects a change in the environment such as a deviation from a physiological set point, it sends a signal to the control center. The control center processes this information and if necessary, sends a signal through the efferent branch to the effector (in this case, the gland) to adjust its secretions and return the system to homeostasis.
This is part of the negative feedback mechanism where the effector's action serves to counteract the initial change and bring the variable back to its normal range or set point. An example of such a system involves the endocrine glands, which can secrete hormones in response to various signals, including hormones from other glands, thereby maintaining homeostasis within the body.