Which of the following is an action of the sympathetic nervous system during stress?
A)It increases the ability to respond to situations where physical activity is required.
B)It increases blood flow to the skeletal muscles and viscera.
C)It inhibits blood clotting.
D)It decreases ventilation of the lungs to save oxygen.
E)It increases glycogen synthesis in the liver.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system increases the body's ability to respond to situations that require physical activity, such as the fight or flight response. This is achieved by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and by dilating the airways to facilitate oxygen uptake.

Answer: B
 The sympathetic nervous system diverts blood flow away from the skin, kidneys, and digestive organs, and toward the skeletal muscles and viscera that are needed to respond to a stressful situation. This is achieved by constriction of blood vessels in some areas and dilation in others.

Answer: C
 The sympathetic nervous system increases blood clotting in response to stress, because only injury or tissue damage triggers the coagulation cascade.

Answer: D
 The sympathetic nervous system increases ventilation of the lungs during stress, because this helps to supply more oxygen to the body to support physical activity.

Answer: E
 The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver, which increases blood glucose levels and provides energy for physical activity. Glycogen synthesis is not increased during stress.

Which of the Following Is an Action of the Sympathetic