Question

It was a very dark night as Jane started to walk to her dorm from the campus library. She was thinking about tomorrow’s test when she heard heavy breathing and then a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw a man looking at her while holding a bat. Without thinking, she swung her book bag with all her might – hitting the man in the chest and knocking him to the ground. Jane ran as fast as she could, running faster than she ever had back to her dorm. Her roommate couldn’t believe that 5 ft 1 Jane could take out a grown man and get as home as quick as she did. When Jane first got home, her heart was pounding; it felt like it was coming out of her chest! She was breathing rapidly; her mouth was dry and she felt extremely winded. Further, she was on edge and shaky. It was not until several hours later that Jane had finally calmed down enough to go to sleep.

Match the following autonomic system (parasympathetic or sympathetic) with the case scenario regarding Jane.

a. Preparing body for fight or flight response

b. Reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration

c. Aids in 'calming down'

d. Aids in digestion

e. Increasing heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure

f. Releasing hormones and blood sugar

Answer 1

• a.Preparing body for fight or flight response-sympathetic nervous system
• b. Reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration-parasympathetic system
• c. Aids in 'calming down'-parasympathetic system
• d. Aids in digestion-parasympathetic system
• e. Increasing heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure-sympathetic system
• f. Releasing hormones and blood sugar-Both are involved;When the pupil is contracted, the blood glucose levels plummet as a direct result of the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Conversely, when the pupil dilates and activated the sympathetic nervous system, the blood glucose levels rises.