The body's response to stress

Question 1

When is stress experienced?

Answer 1

stress is experienced when a person’s perceived environmental, social and physical demands exceed their perceived ability to cope - particularly when these demands are seen as endangering well-being in some way

Question 2

What is the sympathomedullary pathway?

Answer 2

the SNS (the sympathetic nervous system) and the SAM (sympathetic aderenal medullary system) make up the pathway

Question 3

What is the SNS?

Answer 3

the sympathetic nervous system - this is a branch of the ANS.

Question 4

What is the SAM system?

Answer 4

The sympathetic adrenal medullary system which is a branch of the ANS

Question 5

What is the ANS?

Answer 5

The automatic nervous system i.e. it governs itself

Question 6

what are the two parts of the ANS?

Answer 6

The ANS is divided into the sympathetic branch and the parasympathetic branch

Question 7

What are the responses prepared if the SNS is activated?

Answer 7

increase in heart rate, increase in blood pressure, increased pupil size and metabolic changes such as the mobilisation of fat and glycogen in the blood stream

Question 8

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 8

The SNS arouses an animal to be ready for flight or fight.

Question 9

What happens when the parasympathetic branch is activated?

Answer 9

it relaxes the animal, slowing the heart-rate, reduces the heart rate and digestion is activated

Question 10

How does the SNS prepare the body for rapid action when the animal is under threat?

Answer 10

Neurones from the SNS travel to every organ and gland within the body

Question 11

what does the parasympathetic branch do?

Answer 11

the parasympathetic branch returns the animal to a state of relaxation after fight or flight

Question 12

What is the neurotransmitter?

Answer 12

Nonadrenoline is the neurotransmitter - also known as norepinephrine.

Question 13

Why is the SNS activated?

Answer 13

When an animals is exposed to a stressor the SNS is activated, preparing the body for fight or flight

Question 14

How does the neurotransmitter work ?

Answer 14

Nonadrenoline is released from the neurotransmitter - also known as norepinephrine - to activate the body organs. It is released by the SNS to activate the body organs, travelling to virtually every organ and gland

Question 15

The parasympathetic is sometimes referred to as?

Answer 15

the body’s rest and digest system

Question 16

what happens at the same as the SNS?

Answer 16

the SAM system alerts the animal through the release of adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) into the bloodstream

Question 17

how is the SAM is regulated?

Answer 17

by the SNS and also the adrenal medulla

Question 18

what is the adrenal medulla?

Answer 18

each adrenal gland has two distinct zones

Question 19

each adrenal gland has two distinct zones - what are they?

Answer 19

the adrenal medulla in the centre of the gland and the adrenal cortex around the outside

Question 20

How is adrenaline released into the bloodstream ?

Answer 20

Neurons from the SNS travel to the medulla so that when it is activated it releases adrenaline into the bloodstream

Question 21

Once in the bloodstream what are the effects of adrenaline on the body’s physiological systems?

Answer 21

once in the blood, adrenaline has widespread effects on the body’s physiological systems, e.g. boosting the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, and supressing non-emergency bodily processes such as digestion.