When fighting or fleeing a stressor, blood vessels to the heart, skeletal muscles and liver vasodilate, while blood vessels to the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract vasoconstrict.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is known as the "fight or flight" response and is a physiological reaction to stress. The body redirects blood flow to the areas that are necessary for survival in the moment, such as the heart and muscles, while reducing blood flow to other areas that are not essential, such as the digestive system.

When Fighting or Fleeing a Stressor, Blood Vessels to the Heart