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WorksheetsStress Response
Total questions: 48
Worksheet time: 24mins
Which statement best defines a stressor in human physiology?
A hormone that restores balance by activating parasympathetic pathways
A factor that disrupts homeostasis by activating sympathetic pathways
A behavior that permanently increases baseline adrenaline levels
A nutrient that stabilizes blood pressure and heart rate
When a stressor activates the sympathetic nervous system, which immediate changes are most likely to occur?
Enhanced blood flow to skeletal muscle
Immediate drop in blood glucose
Increased heart rate
Dilation of pupils
Decreased blood pressure
Match each term with its primary role in the stress response.
Sympathetic nervous system
Rapid fight-or-flight activation
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Acute increases in heart rate and blood pressure
Cortisol
Sustained energy mobilization during prolonged stress
Homeostasis
Internal balance threatened by stressors
Which scenario best illustrates a psychological stressor threatening homeostasis?
Running a relaxed warm-up before practice
Sleeping deeply after a long day
Eating a balanced breakfast without distractions
Anticipating a major exam causing rapid heartbeat
Adrenaline and cortisol both rise during stress, but how do their primary effects differ most accurately?
Adrenaline drives immediate fight-or-flight; cortisol sustains energy over time
Adrenaline lowers heart rate; cortisol raises blood pressure acutely
Adrenaline promotes sleep; cortisol triggers rapid reflexes
Adrenaline stores glucose; cortisol blocks glucose availability
Which combination lists two valid types of stress described in class?
Dietary and metabolic
Endocrine and neuronal
Physical and psychological
Biological and homeostatic
Which scenario best illustrates a physical stressor that threatens tissue survival?
Feeling guilty after missing a deadline
Experiencing social conflict at school
Hearing upsetting news from a friend
Exposure to extreme cold during a hike
Psychological stress most directly results from which kind of threat?
Exposure to prolonged loud noise
Loss of oxygen in the bloodstream
Direct damage to body tissues
Real or perceived dangers to wellbeing
Select which events are psychological stressors:
Extreme heat exposure
Personal loss event
Prolonged heavy exercise
Unpleasant social interaction
Physical stressor
Which of the following are examples of physical stressors?
Feelings of anger and guilt
Unpleasant social interactions
Prolonged heavy exercise
Decreased oxygen concentration
Infections affecting the body
Which brain region initiates the immediate alarm stage of the stress response?
Hippocampus
Medulla oblongata
Hypothalamus
Cerebellum
During the alarm stage, which catecholamines are released into the bloodstream to drive rapid effects?
Insulin
Norepinephrine
Cortisol
Epinephrine
Which change best characterizes the fight-or-flight cardiovascular response?
Bradycardia with reduced cardiac output
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Decreased heart rate and vasodilation
Unchanged heart rate with mild hypotension
Match each organ/system with its immediate alarm-stage response.
Lungs
Bronchiole dilation
Skin
Increased sweating
Digestive tract
Decreased activity
Skeletal muscles
Increased blood flow
Liver
Converts glycogen to glucose
Which pathway sequence correctly describes neural-hormonal activation in the rapid stress response?
Hippocampus → vagus nerve → adrenal cortex
Cerebellum → spinal cord → thyroid gland
Pituitary → parasympathetic nerves → pancreas → insulin
Hypothalamus → spinal cord → sympathetic nerves → adrenal medulla
Which metabolic changes occur quickly in the fight-or-flight response?
Mobilization of fatty acids and glycerol
Increased insulin secretion
Increased blood glucose
Enhanced glycogen storage
Which respiratory change is expected during the alarm stage?
Dilation of air passages increasing ventilation
No change in airway diameter or ventilation
Airway collapse decreasing oxygenation
Constriction of bronchi reducing ventilation
During the alarm stage, blood flow is shunted away from which areas to prioritize skeletal muscles?
Skin and digestive organs
Skeletal muscles and lungs
Adrenal medulla and kidneys
Heart and brain
Which statement best distinguishes catecholamines from cortisol in the stress response?
Catecholamines act rapidly; cortisol has slower, longer effects
Catecholamines are steroid hormones; cortisol is a peptide
Catecholamines lower heart rate; cortisol increases it
Catecholamines originate in cortex; cortisol in medulla
Which hormone is released by the hypothalamus to initiate the long-term stress response?
ACTH
CRH
ADH
GH
During the resistance stage, which gland secretes ACTH after stimulation by CRH?
Adrenal medulla
Thyroid gland
Posterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary
Which hormone is directly responsible for stimulating cortisol release from the adrenal cortex?
Glucagon
ADH
CRH
ACTH
Cortisol helps maintain energy during prolonged stress by primarily doing which of the following?
Increasing gluconeogenesis from noncarbohydrates
Decreasing fatty acid release into blood
Raising blood amino acid concentrations
Enhancing mobilization of glycerol stores
Match each hormone with its primary action in long-term stress.
CRH
Stimulates anterior pituitary
ACTH
Stimulates adrenal cortex
Cortisol
Raises blood glucose and fuels
ADH
Increases water reabsorption
Which sequence correctly represents the HPA axis during the resistance stage?
Hypothalamus → ACTH → Anterior pituitary → CRH → Adrenal cortex → Cortisol
Adrenal cortex → ACTH → Anterior pituitary → CRH → Hypothalamus → Cortisol
Hypothalamus → CRH → Anterior pituitary → ACTH → Adrenal cortex → Cortisol
Anterior pituitary → CRH → Hypothalamus → ACTH → Adrenal cortex → Cortisol
Elevated ADH during prolonged stress primarily serves to:
Increase blood volume by retaining water
Lower blood volume by excreting water
Increase heart rate by adrenal catecholamines
Decrease aldosterone to spare sodium
Which combination of hormones most directly mobilizes energy substrates during long-term stress?
Growth hormone
Glucagon
ADH
Aldosterone
Cortisol
A possible immune consequence of chronically elevated cortisol is:
Enhanced antibody production
Increased lymphocyte proliferation
Decreased lymphocyte numbers
Improved resistance to infections
Which effect is NOT typically associated with cortisol during the resistance stage?
Increased fatty acid release
Increased blood amino acids
Increased gluconeogenesis
Decreased blood glucose
In a dehydrated athlete under prolonged stress, which hormone most immediately helps maintain blood pressure via water retention?
ADH
CRH
Glucagon
Cortisol
Long-term elevation of cortisol has been linked to increased risk of which conditions?
Asthma remission
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Atherosclerosis
Higher lymphocyte counts
Hypertension
In prolonged stress, which hormone helps maintain vasoconstriction and blood pressure alongside aldosterone?
Glucagon from pancreas
Thyroxine from thyroid
Insulin from pancreas
Vasopressin from pituitary
Which change is a common physiological outcome of long-term stress?
Increased bone mineral density
Persistent increase in blood pressure
Sustained drop in blood pressure
Enhanced immune cell activation
Prolonged elevation of cortisol most directly leads to which effect on skeletal muscle?
Selective increase in fast-twitch fibers
No change in protein turnover rates
Enhanced protein synthesis and hypertrophy
Accelerated protein breakdown and muscle loss
Which of the following lists typical consequences of chronic stress?
Lowered mood and fatigue
Increased muscle mass
Rapid wound healing
Immune suppression
Hyperglycemia-like symptoms
Match each HPA axis component to its primary role during repeated stress.
Hypothalamus
Releases CRH to start the cascade
Anterior pituitary
Secretes ACTH into circulation
Adrenal cortex
Produces glucocorticoids in response
Cortisol
Hormone providing negative feedback
In the context of repeated stress, what does 'stunted negative feedback' most likely cause within the HPA axis?
CRH secretion becomes permanently inhibited
ACTH release stops immediately
Excess glucocorticoid production persists
Cortisol levels fall below baseline
A patient presents with recurrent infections and elevated fasting glucose during exam season. Which mechanism best links these findings to chronic stress?
Prolonged cortisol dampens immunity and raises blood glucose
Acute epinephrine spikes enhance leukocyte function
Reduced aldosterone directly lowers insulin secretion
Thyroid hormone surge increases antibody production
Which combination best distinguishes long-term from short-term stress responses?
Sustained hypertension and muscle catabolism
Brief tachycardia and bronchodilation
Transient hyperalertness and pupil dilation
Episodic sweating and piloerection
Which behavior best represents managing responsibilities to reduce stress?
Waiting until deadlines approach
Learning to say no to extra tasks
Adding more clubs for experience
Ignoring priorities to relax
Which combination is a stress relief behavior recommended for overall wellness?
Balanced, nutritious eating
Avoiding all social contact
Regular exercise routines
Engaging in a stress-relief activity
Staying up late frequently
Match each strategy with its primary purpose in stress reduction.
Understand personality traits
Know stress triggers
Ask for help
Use support systems
Stop avoidance
Adopt get-it-done mindset
Maintaining relationships was highlighted as important for stress management. Which pair aligns with this advice?
Solo routines only
Online games replace talk
Family or friendships support
Work tasks over people
Which statement best defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
An anxiety disorder triggered by trauma and recall
A sleep disorder from irregular schedules
A mood disorder caused by daily hassles
A genetic illness without environmental triggers
Historically, which label was associated with PTSD among soldiers?
Calm mind syndrome
Routine duty stress
Shell sleep in hospitals
Battle Fatigue during wartime
Researchers propose a mechanism linking trauma to strong memories. What is it?
Random neural noise erasing memories
Genetic drift changing all memories
Decreased cortisol weakening memories
Increased stress hormones strengthening memories
Match each brain region with its described role in PTSD.
Amygdala
Fear and feelings processing
Hippocampus
Memory seat with altered function
Prefrontal cortex
Executive control, regulation
Which finding is supported by imaging studies in people with PTSD?
The hippocampus functions differently
The cerebellum drives heartbeat
The occipital lobe stops emotions
The corpus callosum disappears
