Question

Sam was driving down the freeway when he was cut off by a semi-truck. His body immediately reacted and felt a jolt of energy run through his body. Soon after, Sam settled down and his body was calm again. The stress response Sam experienced was the ____.

A. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
B. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
C. Sympathetic Adrenal-Medullary System
D. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Answer 1

The stress response Sam experienced was the Sympathetic Adrenal-Medullary System, which is a normal physiological reaction to perceived threats, known as the fight or flight response.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stress response Sam experienced was the C. Sympathetic Adrenal-Medullary System. The fight or flight response, mediated by the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla via the SAM pathway, prepared Sam's body for extreme physical exertion. This is a typical reaction to a perceived threat and is a component of the general adaptation syndrome's first stage, the alarm reaction.

Once the stress is relieved, the body usually quickly returns to normal. Persistent exposure to stressful situations can have negative health consequences, but an immediate reaction like Sam's is a normal physiological process that is distinct from disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which involve longer-term psychological distress.