Final answer:
The physiological response to surgery-related stress is commonly sodium and water retention due to the secretion of aldosterone, which increases blood volume and pressure to cope with the stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physiological response often associated with surgery-related stress is D. Sodium and water retention. When the body undergoes stress, such as during surgery, it activates a long-term stress response. This involves the secretion of corticosteroids from the adrenal cortex which includes the mineralocorticoid aldosterone. Aldosterone's role is to promote sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys, leading to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure.
Some related responses to stress include increased minute respiration to supply more oxygen to the body and decreased intestinal peristalsis. In the fight-or-flight response, pupil dilation and increased blood flow to muscles are common, but peripheral vasodilation is not typically a response to stress as the body tends to conserve blood flow to vital organs.
A decrease in aldosterone secretion would not be consistent with a typical stress response, as aldosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining blood pressure during stress by causing the kidneys to reabsorb sodium.