What senses a disturbance in homeostasis in the body?

The correct answer is the receptor because receptors are specialized structures that detect changes in the environment, or stimuli, and communicate that information to the control center. Receptors play a critical role in monitoring the body’s internal and external conditions, effectively sensing disturbances in homeostasis such as temperature fluctuations, changes in pH, and variations in blood glucose levels.

For example, thermoreceptors in the skin and hypothalamus sense changes in body temperature. When a disturbance occurs, such as an increase in body temperature, these receptors send signals to the control center, typically the brain, which then interprets the information and initiates appropriate responses through effectors, such as sweat glands or blood vessels.

Understanding the distinction between these components helps clarify how the body maintains homeostasis, with the receptor being the initial point of detection in the feedback mechanism.