Question

Epinephrine (also called adrenaline) is a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland during stress and causes heart rate to increase. Predict how cardiac output is affected by epinephrine. Will CO decrease or increase?

Answer 1

Epinephrine, released by the adrenal gland during stress, increases heart rate and force of contraction, leading to an increase in cardiac output.

Step-by-step explanation:

When epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is released by the adrenal gland during stress, it has a significant impact on cardiac output (CO). This hormone, along with norepinephrine, collectively referred to as catecholamines, increases the heart rate and the force of contraction, which are key components of CO. Therefore, the presence of epinephrine in the bloodstream will typically increase cardiac output. It allows the heart to pump more blood with each beat, and with an increased rate, more blood is circulated through the body per minute to satisfy the heightened oxygen and energy demands during a stress response.