Multiple Choice
The sympathetic nervous system is primarily responsible for which of the following responses?
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14. The Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System
Multiple Choice
What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system?
A
To promote rest-and-digest activities by increasing gastrointestinal motility and secretion
B
To transmit special sensory information (vision and hearing) from the head to the brainstem
C
To prepare the body for stress by initiating the fight-or-flight response (e.g., increasing heart rate and dilating airways)
D
To control voluntary skeletal muscle contraction via motor neurons of the somatic nervous system
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the role of the autonomic nervous system, which is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, each with distinct functions in regulating involuntary body activities.
Step 2: Recognize that the parasympathetic nervous system primarily promotes 'rest-and-digest' activities, such as increasing gastrointestinal motility and secretion, which conserves energy and supports digestion.
Step 3: Identify that the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for preparing the body for stressful or emergency situations by initiating the 'fight-or-flight' response, which includes increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and redirecting blood flow to muscles.
Step 4: Note that the transmission of special sensory information (vision and hearing) is a function of sensory pathways, not the sympathetic nervous system.
Step 5: Understand that voluntary skeletal muscle contraction is controlled by the somatic nervous system, which is separate from the autonomic nervous system and its sympathetic division.
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