A soldier who is alone in the woods suddenly hears gunshots. She quickly runs for cover, hiding behind a large rock, then tries to calm down as she plans a strategy about how to get back to her camp and alert her troop. Different parts of her nervous system are involved in this event. Describe each of the following systems and how they apply to the soldier.
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
Central nervous system
Autonomic nervous system: This system controls the involuntary functions of the body, such as heart rate, respiration, and digestion. In this situation, the soldier's autonomic nervous system would likely be activated in response to the threat of danger, causing her heart rate to increase, her breathing to quicken, and her muscles to tense up as she prepares for fight or flight.
Sympathetic nervous system: This division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the body's response to stress or danger. When the soldier hears gunshots, her sympathetic nervous system would be activated, triggering the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and preparing her body for action.
Parasympathetic nervous system: This division of the autonomic nervous system works to counterbalance the effects of the sympathetic nervous system and induce a state of relaxation. Once the soldier has found cover behind the rock and is safe from immediate danger, her parasympathetic nervous system would kick in, helping to calm her down and regulate her bodily functions.
Somatic nervous system: This system controls voluntary movements and sends sensory information from the body to the central nervous system. In this situation, the soldier would rely on her somatic nervous system to move her body into a position of cover behind the rock and to plan her strategy for returning to camp.
Central nervous system: This system consists of the brain and spinal cord and serves as the control center for the entire nervous system. The soldier's central nervous system would be responsible for processing the sensory information from the gunshots, coordinating her physical response, and formulating a plan of action to safely return to her troop.