Health Sciences 1001A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Atherosclerosis, Allostatic Load

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 1001A/B
• Professor: Shauna Burke

Document Summary

Get in control (scope out the situation) Stress refers to: situations that trigger physical and emotional reactions = stressor, the reactions themselves = stress response. Stress = the general physiological and emotional state that accompanies the stress response. The primary determinant of the health consequences of stress is how the individual responds to the stress. Two control systems are responsible for the physical response to stressors: nervous system, endocrine system, nervous system. Consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. One part of the nervous system(ns) in under voluntary control somatic ns (ex. reaching for a pencil) The other part that is not under conscious supervision is known as: Neurochemical message sent to hypothalamus which releases chemicals to pituitary gland which releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (acth) into bloodstream. Acth reaches adrenal glands which release cortisol and other key hormones into the bloodstream: simultaneously: Sympathetic nerves instruct adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) which triggers instantaneous bodily changes.