Question

Lydia is walking in the woods at night to observe owls. She hears a rustling behind a tree, which startled her and causes her body to go into a fight or flight response as the sympathetic nervous system is activated. What is likely to happen to her digestive system during this response?

Answer 1

Answer:

The digestive system will try to save energy, so through the peripheral nervous system, the digestive system will slow down digestion.

Explanation:

Whenever we are at risk, fear or stress, our nervous systems activate a mechanism well known to physicians and physiologists: the so-called fight and flight reaction. In the presence of threatening stimuli, whether real or even imaginary, there is activation of the autonomic nervous system, more precisely the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the release of important substances so that the body can choose between fighting or escaping the threatening stimulus. This seemingly bad and feared stress response is responsible for maintaining life and is extremely essential to our bodies.

At this point, some reactions in the body are activated, such as increased adrenaline secretion from the adrenal gland marrow; increased activity of sweat glands, pupil dilation, inhibition of urinary bladder muscles, among others. One of the reactions that is important to mention is the slowing of digestion caused by the digestive system; This slowdown occurs because blood flow is directed away from the digestive tract. All of this is done as an organism strategy to save energy.

Answer 2

Thinking it would go with The peripheral nervous system will slow down digestion to conserve energy