After cautiously walking home and arriving safely from her late-night class,Selma notices that both her heart rate and breathing slow down.This automatic return to a normal state is due to the activity of her __________ system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming the body after a stressful event, such as walking home alone at night. It slows down heart rate and helps regulate breathing, among other functions. The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements, such as walking, and would not play a role in Selma's body returning to a normal state. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response and would have been activated during Selma's walk home, but would not be responsible for her calming down afterwards. The endocrine system releases hormones, but would not have an immediate effect on Selma's heart rate and breathing returning to normal.

After Cautiously Walking Home and Arriving Safely from Her Late-Night