Question 1

According to Figure 12.4, Endocrine System Pathways in Stress, which of the following is NOT listed as an effect of corticosteroid release during prolonged stress?

Accepted Answer

Pupils dilating is not listed as an effect of corticosteroid release during prolonged stress in Figure 12.4. The other three options are all listed as effects of prolonged stress on the endocrine system pathways.

Question 2

According to Walter Cannon, which of the following is the correct sequence involved in the fight-or-flight response to acute stress?

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon proposed that the fight-or-flight response to acute stress is initiated by the hypothalamus, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to activate the adrenal medulla. This results in the secretion of catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which prepares the body for a rapid response to stress. Therefore, the correct sequence is hypothalamus, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, secretion of catecholamines. The other options do not follow this sequence.

Question 3

Stress can directly undermine health and physical well-being by:

Accepted Answer

When an individual experiences stress, their body undergoes a physiological response that triggers the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can have a direct impact on various body functions and can alter immune system responses, cardiovascular activity, and metabolism, which may ultimately result in physical symptoms or illness. Therefore, option A is the best choice as it explains how stress can undermine physical well-being.

Question 4

Walter Cannon is to _____ as Robert Ader is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon coined the term "fight-or-flight response" to describe the body's reaction to stress. Robert Ader is known for his work in psychoneuroimmunology, the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems.

Question 5

As her car spun out of control on an icy road, Mia's muscles tensed and her blood pressure, heartbeat, and pulse increased dramatically. This rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions is called the:

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived threat or danger. This response includes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse as the body prepares to either fight off the threat or flee from it. This is the most appropriate description of the situation described in the scenario.

Question 6

_____ are hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that cause rapid physiological arousal and include adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Accepted Answer

The hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that cause rapid physiological arousal are known as catecholamines. These include adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are released in response to stress or danger. Corticosteroids are a separate class of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, and lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. Teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects in developing fetuses.

Question 7

The American physiologist Walter Cannon:

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon is known for describing the fight-or-flight response, which involves the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.

Question 8

The _____ response refers to the rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions that prepare people to react to an immediate threat.

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is the immediate physiological reaction that prepares an individual to respond to a perceived threat, either by standing and fighting or by fleeing from the situation. This response involves a range of physiological changes, including increased heart and breathing rates, heightened alertness and focused attention, and the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. The fight-or-flight response is an adaptive mechanism that helps increase the chances of survival in dangerous situations.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a typical correlate of chronic stress?

Accepted Answer

Corticosteroid release is typically increased during chronic stress, not ceased. Therefore, option D is not a typical correlate of chronic stress.

Question 10

When stress is prolonged, the hypothalamus signals the:

Accepted Answer

Prolonged stress causes the hypothalamus to signal the pituitary gland to release ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which then signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol, a stress hormone.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT part of the fight-or-flight response?

Accepted Answer

Decreased blood flow to the muscles is not part of the fight-or-flight response. In fact, during this response, blood flow to the muscles is increased to provide additional oxygen and nutrients for physical activity. The other choices, increased heartbeat, inhibition of digestion, and dilation of pupils, are all part of the fight-or-flight response.

Question 12

Which of the following physiological changes is part of the fight-or-flight response?

Accepted Answer

The inhibition of digestion is part of the fight-or-flight response, as the body prioritizes blood flow to the muscles that will help the individual fight or flee from danger.

Additional note: The other options are incorrect. The fight-or-flight response actually increases blood pressure and blood flow to muscles, and stimulates the release of adrenaline.

Question 13

Georgia is undergoing an acute, 50-minute stressor-a comprehensive final exam in her psychology class at State University. Which of the following issues is Georgia likely to experience?

Accepted Answer

During acute stress, the body releases catecholamines like adrenaline and noradrenaline, which prepare the body for fight or flight response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Therefore, option A is the correct choice as Georgia is undergoing acute stress which will lead to an increase in catecholamine release. Option B is incorrect as there will be an increase in adrenaline release, not a decrease. Option C is incorrect as pupil dilation occurs during stress, not pupil constriction. Option D is incorrect as stress suppresses digestion.

Question 14

When a large snarling dog threatened Daniel during his regular morning jog, he experienced the classic symptoms of the fight-or-flight response. According to Walter Cannon, Daniel's response to this acute level of stress involves both:

Accepted Answer

According to Walter Cannon's theory of the fight-or-flight response, Daniel's response to the acute stress of a threatening dog involves activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal gland, which are part of the endocrine system. This combination allows the body to prepare for either fighting the dog or running away (flight). Therefore, the correct answer is C, which identifies both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system as involved in the fight-or-flight response.

Question 15

The general adaptation syndrome, a three-stage progression of physical changes that occur in response to intense and prolonged stress, was described by:

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye is credited with describing the general adaptation syndrome in his research on the physiological effects of stress.

Question 16

Walter Cannon is to _____ as Hans Selye is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon is known for his research on the fight-or-flight response, while Hans Selye is known for his research on the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 17

Which of the following substances is a catecholamine?

Accepted Answer

Catecholamines are hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands, and adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) is one of them. Cortisol is a steroid hormone, oxytocin is a neuropeptide, and placebo is not a substance produced by the body.

Question 18

When Marcy arrived home she was shocked to see that her house had been burglarized and ransacked. She was terrified that the burglar might still be in the house. It is very probable that Marcy's sympathetic nervous system has stimulated her adrenal medulla to secrete hormones called:

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system activates the adrenal medulla to secrete catecholamines, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, which prepare the body for the "fight or flight" response in a threatening situation like a burglary. Corticosteroids are also involved in stress response but are secreted by the adrenal cortex, not the adrenal medulla. Dopamine and serotonin have other functions in the body and are not directly related to the stress response.

Question 19

The person who described the fight-or-flight response, which involves the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system, was:

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon first described the fight-or-flight response in the early 1900s, noting the physiological changes that occur in response to a perceived threat or stressor.

Question 20

Mia almost had a car accident. The experience caused her to have a fight-or-flight reaction. Now that the threat has been removed, how long will it take her high level of bodily arousal to subside?

Accepted Answer

It typically takes 20 to 60 minutes for the body's high level of arousal to subside after a fight-or-flight response.

Quiz 12: Section 2: Stress, Health, and Coping