In physiology, a stimulus (plural stimuli) is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli is called sensitivity.When a stimulus is applied to a sensory receptor, it normally elicits or influences a reflex via stimulus transduction.he endocrine system is affected largely by many internal and external stimuli. One internal stimulus that causes hormone release is blood pressure. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is a large driving force for the release of vasopressin, a hormone which causes the retention of water in the kidneys.
Macrophages can be activated by cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and bacterial endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Activated macrophages undergo many changes which allow them to kill invading bacteria or infected cells.
One of the most important functions of the macrophages is that they can activate the acquired immune system! After a macrophage has eaten and digested a particle, it displays some of the broken down germ proteins (antigens) on its cell surface.