The fight or flight response

what is the bodies response ?

• stress is a biological and psychological response experienced on encountering a threat that we feel we do not have the resources to deal with

• A stressor is the stimulus that cause stress

what happens in a sudden or severe situation ?

• Our body judges a situation based on if its stressful

• The decision is made based on sensory input and procssiign and also on stored meories

• If the situation is judged as being stressful the hypothalamus is activated

• The hypothalamus in the brain is in charge of the stress response

what happens during acute stress ?

• The ANS is activated this is automatic and self governing

What is the sympathomdeullary pathway

• Consists of the SAM and the SNS

• They work together when arousal/stress is activated in the human or animal

• The SNS- neurons travel throughout the body preparing for a stress response

What is the SAM system ?

• adrenaline releases glucose increasing energy levels

• Adrenaline medulla helps

What is chronic stress ?

• Main part is the HPA axis- the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis

• Activation of HPA

What happens ?

• a chemical messenger called CRH is released into the bloodstream

• Once detected by the pituitary gland ACTH is released and transported to the adrenal gland

• ACTH stimulates the cortex to release stress related hormones such as cortisol- main stress hormone

• Prolonged ACTH causes adrenal cortex to increase in size