A college student wakes up and notices a racing heart and dilated pupils. The student is scheduled to write an exam later that m
orning. Which system is responsible for this physiological response?A. Cardiovascular irregularity.B. Sympathetic nervous system.C. The release of dopamine.D. Autonomic nervous system.
Under stress conditions, the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body by exhibiting flight or fight response. It includes some physiological changes in the body during stress conditions such as before and during exams.
Some of the physiological responses of the sympathetic nervous system are rapidly pounding, dilated pupils of eyes, deep breathing, dry mouth, and sweaty skin. It also shunts the blood circulation towards active skeletal and cardiac muscles. Dilation of bronchioles to increase ventilation to facilitate the delivery of more oxygen to the body cell is another change stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system. Therefore, the mentioned responses are due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system of the student since he is in the stress of the exam.
