In the alarm stage, which branch of the autonomic nervous system is activated?

In the alarm stage, which branch of the autonomic nervous system is activated?

• A. Parasympathetic
• B. Sympathetic
• C. Central Nervous System
• D. Somatic Nervous System

Answer: (B)

During the alarm stage, the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is activated to prepare the body for rapid action. This fight-or-flight response increases heart rate and blood pressure, opens airways, dilates pupils, redirects blood to muscles, and mobilizes energy stores. The parasympathetic division would promote calm and digestion, so it would not be driving the alarm response. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord that coordinate responses, but it isn’t the specific autonomic branch at work here, and the somatic nervous system governs voluntary movement rather than autonomic arousal. So the sympathetic nervous system is the one activated in the alarm stage.

During the alarm stage, the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is activated to prepare the body for rapid action. This fight-or-flight response increases heart rate and blood pressure, opens airways, dilates pupils, redirects blood to muscles, and mobilizes energy stores. The parasympathetic division would promote calm and digestion, so it would not be driving the alarm response. The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord that coordinate responses, but it isn’t the specific autonomic branch at work here, and the somatic nervous system governs voluntary movement rather than autonomic arousal. So the sympathetic nervous system is the one activated in the alarm stage.