Question

While on spring break in Acapulco, Maia decided to do some cliff diving. As she stood at the edge of a 50-foot cliff, her heart raced, her respiration increased, and she sweated profusely. Which of the following divisions of Maia's autonomic nervous system had been activated by this experience?

a) Parasympathetic nervous system
b) Central nervous system
c) Sympathetic nervous system
d) Somatic nervous system

Answer 1

Maia's experience of cliff diving and the consequent physiological changes indicate the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sympathetic nervous system is the division of Maia's autonomic nervous system that was activated by her cliff diving experience in Acapulco. When faced with a potentially threatening situation like cliff diving, the body's fight-or-flight response is triggered, leading to physiological changes such as an increased heart rate, accelerated respiration, and profuse sweating. These effects are coordinated by the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for intense physical activity.