Final answer:
A sensory receptor is a specialized structure that detects stimuli and can be a part of a nerve cell or an independent specialized cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to any structure specialized to detect a stimulus is a sensory receptor. A sensory receptor can either be a specialized nerve cell or a part of a nerve cell that is capable of responding to environmental stimuli by creating a nerve impulse. These receptors can be free nerve endings, encapsulated endings, or specialized receptor cells. The different types of sensory receptors are adapted to detect specific stimuli such as light, pressure, temperature, or chemicals and convey this information to the central nervous system.
There are two main categories of sensory receptors: those that are associated with general senses spread throughout the body and those affiliated with special senses that have a specific organ such as the eye for sight, the inner ear for hearing and balance, the nose for smell, or the tongue for taste.