Midterm Case Study

At the start

1. What is responsible for raising Jim’s heart and respiratory rate and stimulating sweating just before the race?

Jim was feeling pressure and stress to do well during his race. His nervous system sends signals to the heart causing respiratory rates to increase. The endocrine system in your body releases epinephrine  when you are under stress that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and can lead to sweating to maintain a homeostatic body temperature.

2. Why is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system active just before the race?

The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that is activated during stressful situations. This activated when Jim was reflecting on how difficult the race would be, causing the sympathetic division of the nervous system to activate. This regulates things like blood pressure and pulse.

3. What changes do you think are occurring in the digestive and urinary systems at this time?

Jim’s kidneys are working harder due to the added stress of the race. Kidneys are a major role in the urinary system, they control things like electrolytes, water, and acid-base balances. His digestive has slowed due to the sympathetic nervous system so he can preserve his energy for the fight or flight stage of the race.

4. What is happening to Jim’s blood glucose levels just before the race?

Jim’s blood glucose levels have dropped due to the endocrine releasing glucagon which causes the glucose to exit the blood and go into the cells to be used for cellular respiration to create ATP.

5. Why is Jim’s mouth dry?

Jim’s mouth was dry because his salivary glands have slowed down, if not completely stopped, the production and secretion of saliva because of his sympathetic nervous system.

One minute in

1. Rowing full speed is putting new demands on Jim’s body. What are new demands and how does the body respond to them?

The new demand his body is requesting is high levels of ATP, which can be...