Physiological Stress Response

Question 1

Flight or Fight Response: saliva

Answer 1

flow decreases, no need to break down food therefore no need to waste time producing saliva

Question 2

Flight or Fight Response: eyes

Answer 2

pupils dilate to see better

Question 3

Flight or Fight Response: heart

Answer 3

beats faster + harder

Question 4

Flight or Fight Response: skin

Answer 4

blood vessels constrict, chills + sweating, so if you get cut, you wont bleed

Question 5

Flight or Fight Response: stomach

Answer 5

output of digestive enzymes decreases (you wont need to waste energy digesting food)

Question 6

Flight or Fight Response: muscle

Answer 6

you become more tense, trembling can occur

Question 7

Flight or Fight Response: lungs

Answer 7

quick, deep breathing occurs

Question 8

Flight or Fight Response: bowel

Answer 8

food movement slows down, its not important so the body neglects it

Question 9

Flight or Fight Response: blood vessels

Answer 9

blood pressure increases as major vessels dilate

Question 10

What physiological systems are involved in the stress response?

Answer 10

• nervous system
• endocrine system
• immune system

Question 11

What does the autonomic nervous system regulate?

Answer 11

• circulation
• digestion
• respiration
• temperature regulation

Question 12

What are the two branches from the ANS that act to maintain homeostatic balance?

Answer 12

1. sympathetic nervous system
2. parasympathetic nervous system

Question 13

What is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?

Answer 13

• its responsible for the responses associated with the fight or flight response
• releases catecholamines
  1. epinephrine (adrenaline)
  2. norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

Question 14

What is the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for?

Answer 14

• maintains homeostasis through the release of acetylcholine
• is responsible for energy conservation and relaxation

Question 15

What does the endocrine system consist of?

Answer 15

a series of hormonal glands located throughout the body that regulate metabolic functions. It contains glands, hormones, circulation and target organs

Question 16

What are the glans most closely involved with the stress response?

Answer 16

1. pituitary
2. thyroid
3. adrenal

Question 17

What is the HPA axis?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is cortisol used for?

Answer 18

• catalyzes glucose metabolism
• stabilizes blood pressure
• improves memory
• maintains blood sugar levles

Question 19

How much time does it take for cortisol to show up after a stressor happens?

Answer 19

• 20 minutes

Question 20

What are the three stages of effects associated with the stress response?

Answer 20

• immediate effects of stress
• intermediate effects of stress
• prolonged effects of stress

Question 21

What are the components of immediate effects of stress?

Answer 21

• sympathetic nervous response
• epinephrine and norepinephrine released
• time: 2-3 seconds

Question 22

What are the components of intermediate effects of stress?

Answer 22

• adrenal response
• epinephrine and norepinephrine release from adrenal medulla
• time: 20-30 seconds

Question 23

What are the components of prolonged effects of stress?

Answer 23

• ACTH (cortisol)
• time: minutes, hours, days, weeks

Question 24

What is the pathway for stress immediate or intermediate?

Answer 24

• hypothalamus
• sympathetic (ANS)
• adrenal medulla
• increased cardiovascular response, increased respiration, muscle strength

Question 25

What is the pathway for chronic stress?

Answer 25

• pituitary gland
• ACTH
• adrenal cortex
• decreased inflammation, increased protein and fat mobilization