Question

Chris was driving back to campus after studying with a friend at the local coffee shop. Suddenly, a deer jumped in front of her car. She hit her brakes and swerved to avoid hitting it. Once she realized everything was fine, Chris noticed how fast her heart was beating and how tense she was gripping the steering wheel. Which part of Chris’s body was responsible for these changes?

a) Respiratory system
b) Muscular system
c) Nervous system
d) Digestive system

Answer 1

Chris's increased heart rate and grip tension were caused by her sympathetic nervous system activating the fight-or-flight response, which is part of the autonomic nervous system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The part of Chris’s body responsible for the increased heart rate and tense grip on the steering wheel in response to the sudden appearance of a deer is the nervous system, particularly the sympathetic nervous system. When Chris encountered the potential threat, her sympathetic nervous system activated the fight-or-flight response, which increased her heart rate, caused her muscles to tense, and prepared her body to react to danger. This response involves rapid signaling from the brain to various body systems coordinated by the autonomic nervous system, a component of the overall nervous system that operates largely outside of our conscious control and is crucial for immediate reactions to stress or threats.

Answer 2

Chris's fast heartbeat and tense grip on the steering wheel were caused by her sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, which triggered the fight-or-flight response. The correct option is c) Nervous system

Step-by-step explanation:

The part of Chris’s body that was responsible for the physiological changes she experienced, such as the fast beating heart and the tense grip on the steering wheel, was her nervous system. Specifically, this reaction is attributed to the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the broader nervous system responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response.

When Chris perceived an emergency, the sympathetic nervous system rapidly increased her heart rate, tightened her muscles, and prepared her body to respond to the potential threat, showcasing the efficiency and speed of the nervous system in reacting to sudden incidents.