A student is startled by a loud noise. Her adrenal medulla releases adrenaline…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A student is startled by a loud noise. Her adrenal medulla releases adrenaline. Say which of these changes follow.
- The heartbeat becomes faster.
- The pupils become narrower.
- The hairs on the skin are raised.
- The glycogen of the liver is broken down to glucose.
- The breathing becomes slower.
- The body sweats.
- Which part of the adrenal gland releases adrenaline?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
The adrenal medulla makes adrenaline and noradrenaline, the hormones of fight or flight, under the control of nerves. The cortex makes glucocorticoids (cortisol), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) and small amounts of androgens, and ACTH controls the cortex. Addison's disease is a lack of the cortical hormones. Cushing's syndrome is too much cortisol.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Adrenaline increases alertness and the rate of the heartbeat, widens the pupils, raises the hairs, makes the body sweat, quickens the breathing and breaks down glycogen.
Step 2. Changes that follow: (a), (c), (d) and (f).
Step 3. Changes that do not follow: (b), because the pupils become wider, and (e), because the breathing becomes faster.
Step 4. (g) The medulla.
Answer: (a), (c), (d), (f) follow; (b) and (e) do not; (g) the adrenal medulla.
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