Fight or Flight

• What is triggered in response to acute stress

  Sympathetic Nervous system
• Limitation of the fight or flight response

  There are gender differences that are not considered in the fight or flight response.
• role of the hypothalamus in the body’s response to stress

  • If the situation is stressful/dangerous, the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus.
  • Hypothalamus activates the sympathomedulary pathway (SAM pathway) which runs to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system, which eventually results in the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline.
• role of the adrenal glands in the fight or flight response. Refer to the actions of two hormones in your answer.

  • Adrenal gland is divided into two parts: the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex.
  • The adrenal medulla is responsible for releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline, which play a key role in the fight-or-flight response.
  • The adrenal cortex releases cortisol, which stimulates the release of glucose to provide the body with energy whilst suppressing the immune system.