Question 1

The general adaptation syndrome is Walter Cannon's term for the three-stage progression of physical changes that occur when an organism is exposed to intense and prolonged stress.

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome is actually Hans Selye's term for the three-stage progression of physical changes that occur during a prolonged stress response.

Question 2

The general adaptation syndrome is Hans Selye's term for the three-stage progression of physical changes that occur when an organism is exposed to intense and prolonged stress.

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome is indeed Hans Selye's term for the three-stage progression of physical changes that occur when an organism is exposed to intense and prolonged stress.

Question 3

Corticosteroids are hormones released by the adrenal cortex that play a key role in the body's response to long-term stressors.

Accepted Answer

Corticosteroids are indeed hormones released by the adrenal cortex that are involved in the body's response to long-term stressors. They have a wide range of effects, including reducing inflammation, suppressing the immune system, and regulating various metabolic processes.

Question 4

The sympathetic nervous system, acting on the adrenal medulla, triggers the release of corticosteroids, while the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, acting on the adrenal cortex, trigger the secretion of catecholamines.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The sympathetic nervous system, acting on the adrenal medulla, triggers the release of catecholamines (such as adrenaline and noradrenaline), while the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, acting on the adrenal cortex, trigger the secretion of corticosteroids (such as cortisol).

Question 5

A growing body of literature has linked shorter telomeres with aging, age-related diseases, and mortality.

Accepted Answer

Many studies have shown that shorter telomeres are associated with various health problems related to aging, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. In addition, shorter telomeres have been linked to a higher risk of mortality.

Question 6

A rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions that prepare people to respond to an immediate threat is called the fight-or-flight response.

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is a well-known physiological response to stress or danger that activates the sympathetic nervous system to prepare the body for an immediate physical response. It is called the fight-or-flight response because it prepares the body to either fight the threat or run away from it. The response involves a series of internal physical reactions, such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and sweating, that help to improve physical performance and alertness in stressful situations.

Question 7

Hans Selye described the response to acute threat, calling it the fight-or-flight response, while Walter Cannon described the response to prolonged or chronic stressors, calling it the general adaptation syndrome.

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon described the fight-or-flight response, while Hans Selye described the general adaptation syndrome in response to prolonged or chronic stressors.

Question 8

The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome, during which intense arousal occurs as the body mobilizes internal physical resources to meet the demands of the stress-producing event, is called the resistance stage.

Accepted Answer

The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome is actually the alarm stage, during which the body mobilizes resources to respond to stress. The resistance stage is the second stage, during which the body tries to restore balance and return to normal functioning.

Question 9

An enzyme called telomerase has the capacity to add DNA to shortened telomeres, rebuilding and extending the length of telomeres.

Accepted Answer

Telomerase is an enzyme that can add DNA to the ends of telomeres, which can help rebuild and extend their length.

Question 10

Telomeres are repeated duplicate DNA sequences that are found at the very tips of chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

Telomeres are indeed repeated duplicate DNA sequences present at the ends of chromosomes.

Question 11

In response to acute stress, the pituitary gland triggers adrenocorticotropic hormone release, which causes the adrenal medulla to release stress hormones called catecholamines.

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to release glucocorticoids like cortisol, not the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla releases catecholamines (like adrenaline) in response to direct stimulation by the nervous system, not ACTH.

Question 12

Walter Cannon proposed that the general adaptation syndrome involves a progression of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome was proposed by Hans Selye, not Walter Cannon.

Question 13

In response to prolonged stress, the pituitary gland triggers adrenocorticotropic hormone release, which causes the adrenal cortex to release stress hormones called corticosteroids.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true.

Question 14

The sympathetic nervous system, acting on the adrenal medulla, triggers the release of catecholamines, while the pituitary gland and adrenocorticotropic hormone, acting on the adrenal cortex, trigger the secretion of corticosteroids.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for triggering the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla, while the pituitary gland and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulate the adrenal cortex to produce and release corticosteroids.

Question 15

Walter Cannon described the response to acute threat, calling it the fight-or-flight response, while Hans Selye described the response to prolonged or chronic stressors, calling it the general adaptation syndrome.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Walter Cannon did indeed describe the fight-or-flight response to acute threat, while Hans Selye described the general adaptation syndrome in response to prolonged or chronic stressors.

Question 16

People respond to an immediate threat with an increase in corticosteroids, but they respond to prolonged or chronic threats with an increase in catecholamines.

Accepted Answer

People respond to an immediate threat with an increase in catecholamines (such as adrenaline), which help prepare the body for fight or flight. However, if the threat persists over a longer period of time, the body may also release stress hormones such as corticosteroids (such as cortisol).

Question 17

The alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome is best described as resisting or trying to adjust to the continuing stressful situation.

Accepted Answer

The alarm stage is the initial reaction to stress, where the body recognizes the stressor and activates the "fight or flight" response, not the stage of resistance or adjustment.

Question 18

In the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome, the symptoms of the alarm stage reappear, only this time irreversibly; as the body's energy reserves become depleted, adaptation begins to break down, leading to physical disorders and potentially death.

Accepted Answer

In the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome, the body's resources are depleted and the symptoms of the alarm stage reappear, but they are now irreversible and can lead to physical disorders and even death.

Question 19

Corticosteroids are hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that cause rapid physiological arousal, helping to mobilize the body's resources to flee or fight an immediate threat to survival.

Accepted Answer

Corticosteroids are hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex, not the adrenal medulla. They are involved in the body's stress response and can take longer to have an effect than the rapid physiological arousal associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 20

The adrenal medulla secretes hormones called catecholamines that cause rapid physiological arousal, helping to mobilize the body's resources to flee or fight an immediate threat to survival.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The adrenal medulla secretes hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline that can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, providing a burst of energy that can help an individual respond to a perceived threat or danger. This physiological response is often referred to as the "fight or flight" response.

Quiz 12: Stress, Health, and Coping