4. The fight or flight response

process involved within the fight or flight reponse

1. person detects percieved threat

2. change from parasympathetic state to physiologically aroused sympathetic state

3. pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)

4. ACTH detected by adrenal glands (adrenal medulla)

5. adrenal medulla releases adrenaline into blood stream

6. triggers phsyioloical changes in the body, creating the physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight response

physiological changes due to fight or flight response

• heart rate increases to pump blood to vital organs

• stomach /digestive system divert blood to muscles to increase strength (inhibits digestion)

• pupils dilate to increase vision

• lungs increase breathing rate to increase oxygen

• blood vessels constrict- increase blood flow and pressure

• oxygen and blood to brain and muscles increases to prepare body for action and brain for planning

what hapens once the threat has passed?

1. parasympathetic nervous system is activated to calm the person down and return them to their normal resting state

2. adrenaline is no longer secreted by the adrenal medulla

3. heart and breathing rates return to normal, person, establishes homeostasis

relationship between parasympatehic and sympathetic nervous systems

PNS works in opposition to SNS and acts like a brake so we don’t use up all our vital resources by staying in a constant state of of heightened physiological arousal