The body's response to stress Flashcards
(22 cards)
When is stress experienced?
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
What is the sympathomedullary pathway?
the SNS (the sympathetic nervous system) and the SAM (sympathetic aderenal medullary system) make up the pathway
What is the SNS?
the sympathetic nervous system - this is a branch of the ANS.
What is the SAM system?
The sympathetic adrenal medullary system which is a branch of the ANS
What is the ANS?
The automatic nervous system i.e. it governs itself
what are the two parts of the ANS?
The ANS is divided into the sympathetic branch and the parasympathetic branch
What are the responses prepared if the SNS is activated?
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
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
The SNS arouses an animal to be ready for flight or fight.
What happens when the parasympathetic branch is activated?
it relaxes the animal, slowing the heart-rate, reduces the heart rate and digestion is activated
How does the SNS prepare the body for rapid action when the animal is under threat?
Neurones from the SNS travel to every organ and gland within the body
what does the parasympathetic branch do?
the parasympathetic branch returns the animal to a state of relaxation after fight or flight
What is the neurotransmitter?
Nonadrenoline is the neurotransmitter - also known as norepinephrine.
Why is the SNS activated?
When an animals is exposed to a stressor the SNS is activated, preparing the body for fight or flight
How does the neurotransmitter work ?
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
The parasympathetic is sometimes referred to as?
the body’s rest and digest system
what happens at the same as the SNS?
the SAM system alerts the animal through the release of adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) into the bloodstream
how is the SAM is regulated?
by the SNS and also the adrenal medulla
what is the adrenal medulla?
each adrenal gland has two distinct zones
each adrenal gland has two distinct zones - what are they?
the adrenal medulla in the centre of the gland and the adrenal cortex around the outside
How is adrenaline released into the bloodstream ?
Neurons from the SNS travel to the medulla so that when it is activated it releases adrenaline into the bloodstream
Once in the bloodstream what are the effects of adrenaline on the body’s physiological systems?
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.
