Which division is activated when preparing for action during stress?

Which division is activated when preparing for action during stress?

• A. Parasympathetic
• B. Central
• C. Sympathetic
• D. Somatic

Answer: (C)

Stress triggers the fight-or-flight response through the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This division ramps up actions needed for rapid performance: heart rate and blood pressure rise, airways dilate to boost oxygen intake, pupils widen, and blood is diverted toward the muscles while the liver releases glucose for quick energy. These changes gear the body toward action. The parasympathetic division does the opposite, promoting rest, digestion, and energy conservation. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord as the processing center, not the specific autonomic action that prepares the body for stress. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements, not the automatic adjustments seen in stress responses.

Stress triggers the fight-or-flight response through the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This division ramps up actions needed for rapid performance: heart rate and blood pressure rise, airways dilate to boost oxygen intake, pupils widen, and blood is diverted toward the muscles while the liver releases glucose for quick energy. These changes gear the body toward action. The parasympathetic division does the opposite, promoting rest, digestion, and energy conservation. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord as the processing center, not the specific autonomic action that prepares the body for stress. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements, not the automatic adjustments seen in stress responses.