Final answer:
The bodily responses experienced by Pasquale when he heard someone running up behind him in the dark are part of the fight-or-flight response, orchestrated by the sympathetic nervous system and hormonal release from the adrenal glands.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Pasquale was walking down a dark street at night and heard someone running up behind him, his body responded with physiological changes that are part of the fight-or-flight response. This response is activated by the sympathetic nervous system and involves the release of hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal glands. These hormones lead to a series of reactions such as dilation of the pupils, acceleration of heart rate, and preparation of muscles for physical action, all designed to prepare the body either to confront or flee from perceived threats.
What is the Fight-or-Flight Response?
The fight-or-flight response is an involuntary human body response mediated by the nervous and endocrine systems. The sympathetic nervous system's activation prompts the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline, which cause the heart to beat faster and the body to ready itself either to physically confront or to escape from a danger. This was an evolutionary adaptation to increase the chances of survival in the face of threats, and it remains a critical component of human physiology.