adrenaline and the fight or flight response

Question 1

`what is the fight or flight response?

Answer 1

• body creates defence mechanisms when preposed with a threat
• we either confront or run from the threat
• generated from our autonomic nervous system - sympathetic branch
• reflex designed to help us react quicker than normal characterstics

Question 2

what does the stress response have??

Answer 2

• response can be one of two types depending on threat
• have short term stressors like fight or flight
• long term stressors/ chronic where different systems are activated

Question 3

what would be classified as a short term stressor?

Answer 3

traffic jam, arguement with friend, poor grade, running to bus or being chased

Question 4

what would be classified as a long term stressor??

Answer 4

poverty, stressful ob, dysfunctional marriage, family, consistent work or deadlines

Question 5

describe the appraisal of the stressor?

Answer 5

a situation percieved as stressful
/
hypothalamus alerted
/
SAM system activated = immediate response to acute stressor - fight or flight response alerted

or

Pituitary adrenal system activated = response to chronic stressor

Question 6

describe the body’s response to acute stress via the sypathomedullary (SAM) pathway?

Answer 6

1. body appraises situation using sensory systems and stores memories. hippocampus and amygdala try to recognise emotional reactions to stimuli and access stored memories for potential danger.
2. if situation is appraised as potential threat, hypothalamus is alerted and recognises stree is acute so …
3. SAM pathway is activated. this is the sympathetic branch of the ANS that goes to adrenal medulla
4. stimulates adrenal gland which is in kidneys
5. adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline
6. once these hormones are released into blood stream, regulate various bodily process in order to prepare for fight or flight. - increased heart rate, breathing or dilating pupils

Question 7

what are the effects of adrenaline??

Answer 7

• increase in prespiration
• pupil dilation
• increase in respiration
• raised blood pressure and heart rate
• increase in blood flow to muscles for muscular tension
• reduce activity in digestion system

Question 8

explain increase in prespiration?

Answer 8

• sweat helps cool down body quicker since sweat evaporates it cools and prevents heat exhaustian which allows us to continue fighting or fleeing from danger without becoming exhausted

Question 9

explain increase in respiration?

Answer 9

to increase amount of oxygen you take in since body needs higher levels of oxygen to be able to fight or flee.
oxygen is used by muscles to make energy for fighting or fleeing

Question 10

explain increase in heart rate and raised blood pressure??

Answer 10

occurs in order to efficiently circulate blood with oxygen and nutrients to your muscles for fighting or fleeing. enables energy to be pumped around body quicker

Question 11

explain pupil dilation?

Answer 11

allows more light to enter eyes so that you can see your surroundings better. your eyes can do this to you to be more observant of threat causing reaction

Question 12

explain increase in blood flow to muscles for muscular tension?

Answer 12

occurs in order to efficiently circulate oxygen and nutrients to your muscles for fighting or fleeing and supports our body for quick action

Question 13

explain reduced activity in digestive system??

Answer 13

this is because prescious energy and resources are needed elsewhere - muscles. processes within digestive system are tempary and halted to allow these resouces to be used.

Question 14

what does the parasypathetic branch do?

Answer 14

• will be activated few mins after fight or flight
• a countershock response which reduces fight or flight responses and returns body back to normal - homeostasis
• does opposite effects to fight or flight - slow heartbeat, constrict pupils, inhibit glucose release, stimulate stomach activity, constrict stomach activity