Which of the following statements about the effector is true?

The effector is a crucial component of the body's response mechanisms, often part of the motor pathway that activates a response to stimuli. The statement that it can either contract or secrete products accurately describes the diverse functions of effectors. Effectors can include muscles, which contract to produce movement, and glands, which secrete various substances like hormones or enzymes. This versatility is essential for facilitating both voluntary actions, such as moving limbs, and involuntary processes, such as digestion and hormonal regulation.

In contrast to other statements, effectors do not send signals to the central nervous system (CNS), as they are typically the endpoints that act based on commands received from motor neurons. Additionally, they are not part of the sensory pathway; instead, they respond to signals from sensory pathways and the CNS. Finally, effectors are not solely composed of nerve cells; instead, they can be muscle fibers or glandular cells, demonstrating a variety of cellular makeups essential for their functions.