Question 1

An increased risk of coronary artery disease is linked to

Accepted Answer

The Type A behaviour pattern, which includes traits such as impatience, competitiveness, and aggressiveness, has been shown to be a significant risk factor for developing coronary artery disease.

Question 2

Depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders are linked to

Accepted Answer

Depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders have all been shown to be linked to increased activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. This axis plays a key role in the stress response, and chronic activation of the HPA axis has been implicated in a range of psychological and physical health problems.

Question 3

Artificial immunities are acquired through

Accepted Answer

Artificial immunities are acquired through vaccinations, which introduce a weakened or dead pathogen into the body, triggering an immune response and building immunity to the specific disease. Breast milk provides natural immunity to some extent, but it is not considered an artificial immunity. Food does not provide immunity, and prior disease exposure leads to natural immunity.

Question 4

The role of the ____________ immune system is to provide universal protection against infections and diseases.

Accepted Answer

The nonspecific immune system is also known as the innate immune system, and it provides universal protection against infections and diseases. It is called nonspecific because it responds to a broad range of pathogens rather than targeting specific ones.

Question 5

Variables that affect how stress is experienced and how it affects health and other aspects of functioning are called stress

Accepted Answer

Moderators are variables that can influence the relationship between stressors and stress reactions. They can amplify, buffer or nullify the effects of stress on health and other aspects of functioning. Examples of moderators include personality traits, coping strategies, social support, and genetics. Intermediaries refer to the mechanisms or pathways through which stress affects health, such as immune function or cardiovascular activity. Regulators and arbitrators are not commonly used terms in the stress literature.

Question 6

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis involves a structure called the _____ in the brain, as well as a hormone called ______,

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis involves the hypothalamus in the brain, which releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to stimulate the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol. Melatonin is not part of this axis, and the hippocampus plays a role in memory and learning, but not in the HPA axis.

Question 7

Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of

Accepted Answer

Psychoneuroimmunology focuses on the interactions between the nervous system, the immune system, and psychological processes, examining how these interactions affect health and disease.

Question 8

The type of immune system that protects the body by way of natural or artificially produced immunities is called the ____________ immune system.

Accepted Answer

The specific immune system is responsible for recognizing and attacking specific pathogens or foreign substances. This can be achieved through natural immunities such as antibodies passed down from a mother to her child, or through artificially produced immunities such as vaccines. The nonspecific immune system, on the other hand, provides a general defense against any invading pathogens without recognizing specific ones. The terms targeted and general are not commonly used to describe the immune system.

Question 9

The sympathetic-adrenomedullary response involves the secretion of:

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic-adrenomedullary response involves the stimulation of the adrenal medulla by the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These hormones prepare the body for "fight or flight" response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, and by diverting blood flow to the skeletal muscles. Cortisol is released as part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response, which is a separate stress response system. Leptin and melatonin are not involved in either stress response system. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, not a hormone involved in stress response.

Question 10

When faced with a potentially dangerous situation, increased ____________ nervous system activity prepares the body for rapid response by accelerating heart and respiratory rates and increasing blood pressure and muscle tension.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body for rapid response in potentially dangerous situations by increasing heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and muscle tension. Autonomic, parasympathetic, and peripheral nervous system activity may also be involved in this response, but are not primarily responsible for these specific physiological changes.

Question 11

Which Type A characteristics are most associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease and heart attacks?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that anger and hostility are the Type A characteristics most strongly associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease and heart attacks.

Question 12

Which statement is False regarding inflammation?

Accepted Answer

Inflammation is a nonspecific immune system response, meaning it occurs regardless of the specific pathogen or antigen involved. Its primary function is to increase blood flow to the area of injury or infection, which brings immune cells and nutrients to aid in the healing process. An increase in white blood cells, specifically neutrophils and macrophages, is a hallmark of inflammation. The specific immune system plays a role in the response to a particular pathogen, but inflammation is not triggered solely by the specific immune system.

Question 13

The originator of the General Adaptation Syndrome is

Accepted Answer

Hans Seyle is the originator of the General Adaptation Syndrome, which is a theory of how organisms respond to stress.

Question 14

The two types of white blood cells that secrete chemicals, antibodies, and toxins to kill invading microbes are called

Accepted Answer

T-cells and B-lymphocytes are the two types of white blood cells that secrete chemicals, antibodies, and toxins to kill invading microbes. T-cells are specialized cells that directly destroy infected cells or cancer cells, while B-lymphocytes produce antibodies that can specifically target and neutralize invading microbes.

Question 15

A component of the nonspecific immune system that prevents microbes from getting into the body is called a(n) ______________barrier.

Accepted Answer

An anatomical barrier, such as the skin or mucous membranes, physically prevents microbes from entering the body. Protective, membrane, and microbe barriers do not refer specifically to this function of the immune system.

Question 16

The three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome are

Accepted Answer

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) has three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. During the alarm stage, the body initially reacts to stress by activating its defense mechanisms. In the resistance stage, the body adapts to cope with ongoing stress, and its physiological responses return to normal. If stress continues, the body can move into the exhaustion stage, where its resources become depleted, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion, and increased vulnerability to illness and disease.

Question 17

The immune system process that leads to the production of more white blood cells is known as

Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis is the process by which certain living cells called phagocytes ingest or engulf other cells or particles. It is a crucial mechanism in the immune system to remove pathogens and cell debris. The term specifically refers to the internalization and digestion of pathogens by phagocytes, leading to an immune response that includes the production of more white blood cells to combat infection.

Question 18

The fight-or-flight response was first described by

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon was the first to describe the fight-or-flight response in the 1920s. He proposed that it was a physiological response to perceived threats, characterized by the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones. Hans Seyle later expanded on Cannon's theory and developed the concept of general adaptation syndrome. Erik Erikson and Franz Alexander were not directly involved in the study of the fight-or-flight response.

Question 19

One of the two major systems that are affected by the stress response is the ____________, which results in increased production and/or secretion of corticotrophin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is the major system affected by the stress response, resulting in increased production and/or secretion of corticotrophin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol. The other options (B, C, and D) are involved in the stress response, but do not play as significant a role as the HPA axis.

Question 20

One of the two major systems that are affected by the stress response is the ____________, which results in secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic-adrenomedullary system is the system that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine during the stress response. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis also plays a role in the stress response, but it results in the secretion of cortisol, not epinephrine and norepinephrine. The parasympathetic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system are both involved in regulating bodily functions, but are not specifically affected by the stress response.

Quiz 14: Health Psychology