Fight or flight

Question 1

How did the fight or flight mechanism come about

Answer 1

The flight or fight mechanism was previously an evolutionary survival mechanism in response to a threat

Question 2

What does the flight or fight response do

Answer 2

It prepares the mind and the body for extreme action ,fighting for our life, or escaping the threat
The body returns to homeostasis after the threat has passed

Question 3

What is the Sympathetic adrenal medullary axis (SAM)?

Answer 3

• The immediate response to a stressor
• Releases adrenaline and Noraadrenaline into the blood stream causing the fight or flight response

Question 4

What are the phsyiological changes that come about when adrenaline and noraadrenaline are released? (5)

Answer 4

• Increased oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles
• Increased heart rate
• Deeper respiration
• Pupils dilate
• Inhibits digestion

Question 5

What happens when the brain detects a stressful situation

Answer 5

• The hypothalamus instructs the pituitary gland to release ACTH
• Hypothalamus also activates the SNS centres in the brain stem which results in the increased release of adrenaline

Question 6

What is the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis

Answer 6

• The long term response to a stressor
• Releases glucocorticoids into the liver to release stored glucose

Question 7

What does the release of glucocorticoids do (3)

Answer 7

• Causes the immune system to be surpressed
• Lowers pain sensitvity
• Increases blood pressure

Question 8

What does ACTH stand for an where does it travel to

Answer 8

AdrenoCorticoTrophic Hormone
Travels to the Adrenal cortex

Question 9

What does ACTH do

Answer 9

Stimulates the release of glucocorticoids
Stimulates cortisol and corticosterone