The Endocrine System and the Fight or Flight Response

• The endocrine system communicates through hormones released into the bloodstream. The cells in the endocrine system group into clusters called glands.
• There are glands all over the body, including in the brain. Glands in the brain receive electrical signals from neurons but don't send electrical signals themselves instead they communicate with other cells by releasing hormones into the bloodstream.
• where are adrenal glands located?

  above the kidneys
• What do the adrenal glands do?

  release hormones in response to stress
• What is the outer shell of the adrenal gland called?

  adrenal cortex
• What is the inner section of the adrenal gland called?

  Adrenal medulla
• what hormone does the Adrenal Medulla produce?

  Adrenaline
• What hormone does the Adrenal cortex produce?

  Cortisol
• Where is the Pituitary glad located?

  At the bottom of the brain
• What is the function of the Pituitary gland?


  To control the function of all other glands by releasing a hormone called ACTH.
• what is the pituitary glands nickname?

  the MASTER gland
• A stimulus causes a gland to release a hormone into the bloodstream. then the hormone travels around the bloodstream until they reach target cells. They bind to the receptors on the target cells creating a response.
• What is the fight or flight response?


  Is a bodily reaction that occurs in response to stress and potential danger.
• What are the fight or flight responses?

  • Pupil dilation
  • increased sweating
  • increased muscle tension
  • increased heart rate
  • increased breathing rate
  • decreased salivation
  • decreased food digestion
• The fight or flight response results from the combined activity of two systems: the endocrine system, and the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
• The hypothalamus is part of the endocrine system and the central nervous system. It is located above the pituitary gland.
• How does the hypothalamus receive information from the external world?

  From sensory neurons in the somatic nervous system
• Which system gives the hypothalamus signals about what's going on in our own body?

  the autonomic nervous system
• what is the chain of communications involved in the fight or flight response via the hypothalamus?


  Signals from the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system reach the hypothalamus. This then releases chemicals called hormones that target the pituitary gland. This gland then releases hormones that target other glands, like the adrenal gland.
• To increase or decrease bodily activities, the hypothalamus sends electrical signals to the autonomic nervous system.
• Label the diagram of the fight or flight response

  A) hypothalomus

  B) adrenal medulla

  C) target cell

  D) adrenaline

  
• what type of response is this?

  A SLOW RESPONCE

  
• What are the steps of communication in the fast response?

  1. They hypothalamus sends electrical signals to the sympathetic nervous system.
  2. In tern, this activates the adrenal medulla, which releases the hormone adrenaline.
  3. This hormone binds to target cells, causing the bodily reactions.
• Fast = adrenaline

  Slow = cortisol
• what is are the 7 rest and digest responses?

  • decreased breathing
  • decreased pupil size
  • decreased heart rate
  • decreased sweat
  • decreased muscle tension
  • increased food digestion
  • increased salivation
• What happens when stress is removed?

  The hypothalamus activates the parasympathetic nervous system, bodily activities decrease, and the rest and digest response occurs
• What 2 limitations of the fight or flight research is there?

  Many studies only tested on men, therefore we can not be certain women will react in the same manor. It lacks population validity.

  The research also assumes that we will react within to categories but individual differences mean this may not be accurate.
• What are the negative consequences of the fight or flight response?

  it may not be useful when dealing with small, non-threatening stressors but can become overactivated due to frequent stresses and become harmful for health.