What term refers to the faculty by which the body perceives external stimuli?

The term that refers to the faculty by which the body perceives external stimuli is "sense." This concept is foundational in understanding how living organisms interact with their environment. Senses are the physiological mechanisms that allow individuals to receive and interpret information through sensory organs. They include vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, each serving a specific function in helping an organism respond to stimuli from the surrounding world.

The other terms, while related to the experience of stimuli, do not precisely capture the physiological process of perception through the senses. "Emotion" pertains to psychological states resulting from the interpretation of sensory input but does not describe the faculty itself. "Feeling" often refers to the subjective experience of emotions or sensations, again not addressing the physical ability to perceive stimuli. "Perception" is more concerned with the mental interpretation and understanding that follows the sensory input rather than the faculty itself that detects stimuli.