A young man happens to spot an ex-girlfriend he's trying to avoid. Why does his mouth become dry?
A. His cranial nerves shut down saliva production.
B. His central nervous system shuts down saliva production.
C. His sympathetic nervous system overrides the parasympathetic stimulation for
saliva production.
D. His cervical plexus overrides the parasympathetic stimulation for saliva production.
C. Of course.
Do you mind checking my A& P answers? I answered them already just need someone to check it.
The correct answer is C. His sympathetic nervous system overrides the parasympathetic stimulation for saliva production.
When we experience stress, fear, or anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system is activated. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our body's "fight or flight" response, preparing us to deal with potential threats. This response includes redirecting blood flow away from non-essential functions like digestion and salivation to the muscles and organs needed for survival.
In the case of the young man spotting his ex-girlfriend, he may be feeling anxious or stressed about the encounter, triggering his sympathetic nervous system. As a result, the sympathetic nervous system overrides the parasympathetic stimulation responsible for saliva production.
To get to this answer, it helps to have a basic understanding of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system consists of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. These two branches work together to maintain homeostasis in the body.
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response and helps prepare the body for action in response to a threat. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for rest, relaxation, and digestion.
During times of stress or fear, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to various physiological changes in the body. In the case of saliva production, the sympathetic nerves that innervate the salivary glands inhibit the release of saliva, resulting in a dry mouth.
Therefore, the young man's mouth becomes dry because his sympathetic nervous system overrides the parasympathetic stimulation responsible for saliva production.