Receptors

• Detects changes in body’s internal or external environment. • Can be grouped to make up a sense organ or spread through parts of body.

Detects temperature. • Skin thermoreceptors detect external temperature and send information to hypothalamus and cerebrum. • Separate regions of skin that detect hot and cold. • Thermoreceptors in hypothalamus detect internal temperature. • Hypothalamus can regulate body temperature through info it collects.

Detect osmotic pressure. • Located in hypothalamus, which can stimulate posterior pituitary to release ADH to regulate osmotic pressure.

Detect chemicals. • Located in nose and mouth that detect smell and taste. • Located internally to detect composition of body fluids, such as pH, O2 and CO2 levels. • Messages are sent to respiratory centre to regulate breathing rate.

Detect touch. • Mainly located in skin. • Different types - some detect light touches; others detect harder pressure.

Detect pain. • Located mainly in skin and mucous membranes, found in some organs. • Stimulated by damage to tissues, poor blood flow or excessive heat or chemicals.