1.)
| PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (rest-and-digest) | ||
| ORGANS INVOLVED | MAJOR NERVE SUPPLY | EFFECT ON FUNCTIONS |
| Salivary glands | Facial (VII) nerve & glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) | Increases saliva secretion |
| Heart | Vagus (X) nerve | Reduces heart rate and lessens the force of atrial contraction |
| Lungs | Controls breathing, constricts airway | |
| Pancreas | Secretes digestive enzymes and insulin | |
| Liver | Synthesis of glycogen, increases secretion of bile | |
| Gallbadder | Releases bile into small intestine (helps in digestion) | |
| Stomach | Increases motility and tone, relaxes sphincters, promotes digestion through peristalsis, releases bile for lipid digestion | |
| Small Intestine | Helps in digestion, secretion, and motility | |
| Large Intestine | ||
| Rectum | Pelvic splanchnic nerve | Controls rectum storage of waste and defecation |
2.)
Unexpected events, especially those that can cause danger, inflict stress upon a human being. Sudden threats can trigger a response from the sympathetic nerve system, also known as the system that causes the "fight-or-flight" mechanism, in which the body is prepared for emergency situations: it will either run away from the threat or attempt to fight back against it. This is also the reason behind the symptoms she is experiencing. To prepare the body to face danger, the sympathetic nerve system triggers the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. Various physiological responses will happen, such as faster beating of the heart (faster supply of blood and oxygen to muscles, organs, and brain), faster breathing, goosebumps, and sweaty palms. Because my friend experienced a dangerous and stressful situation, her body triggered the release of these hormones, causing her to experience the aforementioned symptoms.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2019, December 9). What Happens to Your Body During the Fight or Flight Response? Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-to-your-body-during-the-fight-or-flight-response/
Harvard Health Publishing. (2020, July 6). Understanding the stress response. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response#:~:text=These%20glands%20respond%20by%20pumping,heart%2C%20and%20other%20vital%20organs.
Scientific American. (2003, September 1). Why do humans get "goosebumps" when they are cold, or under other circumstances? Scientific American. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-humans-get-goosebu/