Question

What effect does stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system have on the arterioles?

A. Dilation, which results in increased vascular resistance, increased blood pressure, and decreased afterload.
B. Constriction, which results in increased vascular resistance, decreased blood pressure, and decreased afterload.
C. Constriction, which results in increased vascular resistance, increased blood pressure, and increased afterload
D. Dilation, which results in decreased vascular resistance, decreased blood pressure, and decreased afterload.

Answer 1

Sympathetic stimulation of the arterioles leads to constriction, increasing vascular resistance, blood pressure, and afterload; the correct answer is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system typically results in the constriction of the arterioles, which leads to increased vascular resistance. This increase in resistance consequently leads to a rise in blood pressure and also increases afterload, which is the pressure the heart must work against to eject blood during systole. In response to blood loss, the stimulation of sympathetic responses triggers both the vasoconstriction of the arterioles and the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine which further enhances vasoconstriction and helps maintain blood pressure and blood flow to vital organs. Therefore, the correct choice for the effect of sympathetic stimulation on arterioles is C. Constriction, which results in increased vascular resistance, increased blood pressure, and increased afterload.