You were rushed to the emergency room an hour ago, and it has been 30 minutes since the doctor stiched up the cut on your hand.Your friend is driving you home; and your heart is beginning to slow, your breathing is returning to normal, and you feel relaxed for the first time since you cut your hand.The symptoms you are feeling now were produced by the

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of the heart slowing down, breathing returning to normal, and feeling relaxed suggest activation of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. This is the branch responsible for calming the body's response to stress and returning it to a resting state. The limbic system is involved in emotions and motivation, but not necessarily in the physical symptoms described here. The sympathetic branch is responsible for the fight or flight response, which would not produce these specific symptoms. The somatic system is responsible for voluntary movement and sensory processing, and is not involved in the regulation of internal bodily functions.

You Were Rushed to the Emergency Room an Hour Ago