ANS Parasympathetic/Sympathetic question

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I have to fill out this chart about what happens to each organ.body system when " Pam" is frightened by a gunshot in accords to which division it falls under. My thing is- isn't everything that is going to happen due to the SYMPATHETIC division taking over ( "fright and flight"). I can't think of one thing that is going to happen that would be controlled by the Parasympathetic( "resting and digesting"). I just don't know what the fraggle I am supposed to put on the PD side. Any thought into this?

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I have to fill out this chart about what happens to each organ.body system when " Pam" is frightened by a gunshot in accords to which division it falls under. My thing is- isn't everything that is going to happen due to the SYMPATHETIC division taking over ( "fright and flight"). I can't think of one thing that is going to happen that would be controlled by the Parasympathetic( "resting and digesting"). I just don't know what the fraggle I am supposed to put on the PD side. Any thought into this?

Wouldn't this have to do with "Pam" finding out that everything is safe, therefore she doesn't run?

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LOL I have no earthly clue!

All it says was that Pam was "startled" by the gunshot and therefore explain what will happen to her. Sympathetic will kick in immediately- heartrate will go up, bronchioles will dialate in case pam HAS to run, pupils will dialate, etc. That's why I have no idea what in the heck I am supposed to say for Parasympathetic. I emailed her and she said " yes you are right path".. Ahh OKAY well let's see here..then why is there a Parasympathetic column? Talk about some screwy instructions :) Aye yi Yi

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I would think the parasympathetic column should be blank. In that scenario, wouldn't the response be entirely sympathetic?

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That's what I am thinking.

Parasympathetic would only come into play if Pam was "startled but then calmed down" ...which would reverse the actions of sympathetic...but all I have here is she's "startled".

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Specializes in Operating Room.

But, does it actually say she runs away?

My train of thought is:

One....she has to gather her senses to run away,

Two...she realizes everything is ok.

So, sympathetic gets everything in tune for her to run, and if everything is ok, sympathetic takes over to calm her down.

Sympathetic - "fight, flight, fright"

Parasympathetic - "rest, repose, repast" (whatever all that means...) :p

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All I can think of is to put what each system either is or isn't doing. For example, under the parasympathetic system I would put....digestion halted, salivation decreased, tear production halted, urge to void blocked, ....etc. Hope that helps. SG

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I think it's referred to as the "fight or flight'' and anyways once the sympathetic kicks in or initiated it will take about 20 minutes for the body to get back to it's normal state (parasympathetic).

Maxs

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I have to fill out this chart about what happens to each organ.body system when " Pam" is frightened by a gunshot in accords to which division it falls under. My thing is- isn't everything that is going to happen due to the SYMPATHETIC division taking over ( "fright and flight"). I can't think of one thing that is going to happen that would be controlled by the Parasympathetic( "resting and digesting"). I just don't know what the fraggle I am supposed to put on the PD side. Any thought into this?

Think about it this way. If you did not know the answer, you would not know that the parasympathetic section should be blank. So the prof is just showing both columns so people can fill in their proposed answer to the problem. If Pam is frightened, her sympathetic division takes over for the flight or fight response. (The prof didn't want to give everything away so easily with just one column.)

Smile123

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I would say anytime sympathetic kicks in then the para kicks in to counter act this. The body has to calm down can't stay in this state what would that do to the heart,resp system etc. So I feel there would be things in both columns

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I would say anytime sympathetic kicks in then the para kicks in to counter act this. The body has to calm down can't stay in this state what would that do to the heart,resp system etc. So I feel there would be things in both columns

Sure. You could fill out the columns as a time based thing. At first the sympathetic system kicks in and then the parasympathetic takes over after the major crisis is over. BTW, I think there is a forum for "homework" problems in another section for this type of question....

Smile123

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I would say anytime sympathetic kicks in then the para kicks in to counter act this. The body has to calm down can't stay in this state what would that do to the heart,resp system etc. So I feel there would be things in both columns

Exactly. Because they are antagonists of each other, both colomns should be filled out. Maybe with the parasymathetic being an before and after effect.

I agree that the urination, etc pauses, but what happens when you are so scared you wet your britches? :rotfl:

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