Question

Which of the following does the medullary ischemic reflex result in?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer to the question: Which of the following does the medullary ischemic reflex result in? would be, A: Increased circulation to the brain.

Explanation:

The brain is known to be one of the most selfish organs in the human body, specifically when it comes to low flow of blood, oxygenation and nutrient distribution to it. Since its primary source of energy is glucose, and it also requires oxygen, the brain tends to respond rather harshly when there is a lowering of blood supply to its parts. One such part of the brain that responds rather fast to a lowering in blood pressure in the brain, is the medulla, where the receptors, when they sense the loss of pressure, encourage the activation of sympathetic responses. These responses, both vasomotor and cardiac will have two effects: extract precious blood volume from other organs that are not vital and return it to the heart so it can be pumped faster, and increase the pressure in the arterial walls so that more exchange can be achieved with each pump. This will increase the blood flow to the medulla and once the normal levels are reached, the medulla will shut off the sympathetic response.