Question

lydia is walking in the woods at night to observe owls. she hears a rustling behind a tree, which startles her and causes her body to go into a fight or flight response as the sympathetic nervous system is activated. what is likely to happen to her digestive system during this response?

a. the peripheral nervous system will speed up digestion to use energy.

b. the enteric nervous system will speed up digestion to use energy.

c. the enteric nervous system will slow down digestion to conserve energy.

d. the peripheral nervous system will slow down digestion to conserve energy.

Explanation:

The sympathetic nervous system activates fight-or-flight, which prioritizes energy for emergency responses. Digestion is a non-essential process in this state, so the enteric nervous system (which regulates the digestive tract) slows digestion to conserve energy. Options A and B are incorrect because digestion is not sped up. Option D is incorrect because the peripheral nervous system is a broad category; the enteric nervous system (a subset) directly controls digestive function in this context.

Answer:

C. The enteric nervous system will slow down digestion to conserve energy.