Physiological Stress Response Flashcards
Flight or Fight Response: saliva
flow decreases, no need to break down food therefore no need to waste time producing saliva
Flight or Fight Response: eyes
pupils dilate to see better
Flight or Fight Response: heart
beats faster + harder
Flight or Fight Response: skin
blood vessels constrict, chills + sweating, so if you get cut, you wont bleed
Flight or Fight Response: stomach
output of digestive enzymes decreases (you wont need to waste energy digesting food)
Flight or Fight Response: muscle
you become more tense, trembling can occur
Flight or Fight Response: lungs
quick, deep breathing occurs
Flight or Fight Response: bowel
food movement slows down, its not important so the body neglects it
Flight or Fight Response: blood vessels
blood pressure increases as major vessels dilate
What physiological systems are involved in the stress response?
- nervous system
- endocrine system
- immune system
What does the autonomic nervous system regulate?
- circulation
- digestion
- respiration
- temperature regulation
What are the two branches from the ANS that act to maintain homeostatic balance?
- sympathetic nervous system
- parasympathetic nervous system
What is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?
- its responsible for the responses associated with the fight or flight response
- releases catecholamines
1. epinephrine (adrenaline)
2. norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
What is the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for?
- maintains homeostasis through the release of acetylcholine
- is responsible for energy conservation and relaxation
What does the endocrine system consist of?
a series of hormonal glands located throughout the body that regulate metabolic functions. It contains glands, hormones, circulation and target organs
What are the glans most closely involved with the stress response?
- pituitary
- thyroid
- adrenal
What is the HPA axis?
a) Stress activates hypothalamus
b) it makes CRH that goes to the anterior pituitary
c) activates ACTH which goes to the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys
d) releases cortisol
e) when too much cortisol is released, it tells the hypothalamus to stop working
What is cortisol used for?
- catalyzes glucose metabolism
- stabilizes blood pressure
- improves memory
- maintains blood sugar levles
How much time does it take for cortisol to show up after a stressor happens?
- 20 minutes
What are the three stages of effects associated with the stress response?
- immediate effects of stress
- intermediate effects of stress
- prolonged effects of stress
What are the components of immediate effects of stress?
- sympathetic nervous response
- epinephrine and norepinephrine released
- time: 2-3 seconds
What are the components of intermediate effects of stress?
- adrenal response
- epinephrine and norepinephrine release from adrenal medulla
- time: 20-30 seconds
What are the components of prolonged effects of stress?
- ACTH (cortisol)
- time: minutes, hours, days, weeks
What is the pathway for stress immediate or intermediate?
- hypothalamus
- sympathetic (ANS)
- adrenal medulla
- increased cardiovascular response, increased respiration, muscle strength
What is the pathway for chronic stress?
- pituitary gland
- ACTH
- adrenal cortex
- decreased inflammation, increased protein and fat mobilization
