Question

Which statement about the sympathetic nervous system is true?

a) It only produces epinephrine and norepinephrine.
b) It is responsible for the "rest and digest" response.
c) It is not involved in the fight or flight response.
d) It is primarily responsible for parasympathetic functions.

Answer 1

The sympathetic nervous system is involved in the fight or flight response and triggers physiological changes that prepare the body to face or escape threats, using hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about the sympathetic nervous system is that it is involved in the fight or flight response. The sympathetic nervous system triggers a series of physiological changes that prepare the body to face a perceived threat or to escape from it. Some of these changes include an accelerated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and the release of stored energy. It also produces and utilizes hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which further amplify the body’s state of readiness.

Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “rest and digest” response, which brings the body back to a state of rest after a threat has passed, and therefore it slows down the heart rate and stimulates digestive activities.