Receptors - GCSE Biology Definition

Receptors are structures that detect changes in the environment and help the body respond. In GCSE Biology, this term can refer to two main types. Sensory receptors are specialised cells or sense organs that detect external stimuli like light, temperature, or pressure and send information to the brain through the nervous system. Cellular receptors are protein molecules found on the surface of cells that detect chemical signals such as hormones. Both types of receptors play an essential role in helping organisms respond to internal and external changes.