the philosophy of stress L1

• what is the response to short term (immediate)stress?

  the sympathamedullary pathway (SAM)
• how does the SAM pathway work?

  • The hypothalamus activates the sympathetic branch (S) of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
  • Adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline are released by the adrenal medulla (M)
• what physiological processes do adrenaline & noradrenaline cause?

  • increased heart rate
  • increased muscle tension
• what do these physiological processes help with?

  they help us to deal with the stressor (fight or flight response)
• what happens once the threat has passed?

  the parasympathetic branch of the ANS dampens down the stress response and returns the body to its normal resting state
• what is the response for long term (ongoing) stress?

  the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system (HPA)
• how does the HPA work?

  • the hypothalamus (H) activates the pituitary gland (P), stimulating the adrenal cortex (A) to release cortisol
  • the hypothalamus uses corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) to activate the pituitary gland
  • the pituitary gland activates the adrenal cortex using adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)