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Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions
Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMartini, Nath, Bartholomew 12th EditionCh. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order FunctionsProblem 26
Chapter 16, Problem 26

You are home alone at night when you hear what sounds like breaking glass. What physiological effects would this experience probably produce, and what would be their cause?

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Step 1: Identify the type of stimulus and the body's initial response. Hearing breaking glass at night is perceived as a sudden, potentially threatening stimulus, which activates the body's stress response system.
Step 2: Understand the role of the sympathetic nervous system. This system is part of the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response, preparing the body to react to danger.
Step 3: Describe the physiological effects triggered by sympathetic activation. These include increased heart rate, dilation of the pupils, increased respiratory rate, and release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal medulla.
Step 4: Explain the cause of these effects. The hypothalamus detects the threat and signals the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline, which then acts on various organs to produce the physiological changes that prepare the body for rapid action.
Step 5: Summarize the overall effect. The combination of nervous system activation and hormone release results in heightened alertness, increased energy availability, and enhanced physical readiness to respond to the perceived threat.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Fight-or-Flight Response

The fight-or-flight response is the body's automatic reaction to perceived danger, triggering physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline release. It prepares the body to either confront or escape a threat, enhancing alertness and physical readiness.
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Sympathetic Nervous System Activation

The sympathetic nervous system activates during stressful or threatening situations, stimulating the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and noradrenaline. This activation causes increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and redirected blood flow to muscles, enabling quick physical responses.
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Sympathetic Nervous System Example 1

Stress Hormones and Their Effects

Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released during acute stress, affecting various body systems. They increase energy availability, suppress non-essential functions like digestion, and heighten sensory perception, all aimed at improving survival chances in emergencies.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Under which of the following circumstances would the diameter of peripheral blood vessels be greatest?

(a) Increased sympathetic stimulation

(b) Decreased sympathetic stimulation

(c) Increased parasympathetic stimulation

(d) Decreased parasympathetic stimulation

(e) Both increased parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation

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Textbook Question

A possible side effect of a drug used to open the airways of someone suffering from an asthma attack is

(a) Decreased activity of the digestive system

(b) Diarrhea

(c) Profuse urination

(d) Increased blood pressure

(e) Decreased heart rate

Textbook Question

The condition known as shock is characterized in part by a decreased return of venous blood to the heart. How could an upsetting situation, such as the sight of a tragic accident or very bad news, produce some temporary symptoms of shock?

Textbook Question

Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the ANS. Based on this information, how would cigarette smoking affect the cardiovascular system?

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Textbook Question

During sympathetic stimulation, a person may begin to feel 'on edge'; this is the result of

(a) Increased energy metabolism by muscle tissue

(b) Increased cardiovascular activity

(c) Stimulation of the reticular activating system

(d) Temporary insensitivity to painful stimuli

(e) Decreased levels of epinephrine in the blood

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Textbook Question

Why is autonomic tone a significant part of ANS function?

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