Learning about biology

Question

So I was reviewing a topic in biology and I couldnt find a answer for it in the textbook. What does stimulus mean and how does it affect the world around us,

Answer 1

In biology, a stimulus is defined as some detectable change in the environment which causes a living organism to respond to that change. An example is sunlight in the environment allowing plants to photosynthesize, which creates their food and creates fresh oxygen for us to breathe.

Stimuli are why animals, plants, and all living things are able to respond to their environments and surroundings. For humans, an example of a stimulus is cold air in the environment, which causes us to shiver and maintain homeostasis in our bodies so we do not freeze.

Answer 2

Hi Lizzy, I'm happy to help!

A stimulus in biology is anything that can trigger a physical or behavioral change. You can think of it as a stimulus can cause stimulation. A stimulus can be internal, coming from within your body, such as a change in your vital signs, or external, such as touching something too hot.

The three types of stimuli are:

1. Mechanical
2. Thermal
3. Chemical

and different sensory nerve endings respond primarily to one type of stimulation, whereas others can detect them all.

I hope this helps!

-Carly