Explain the interaction of stress and the endocrine system

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Stress is defined as any event that disturbs the stable internal environment. In the presence of stress, the body reacts in two ways as initiated by the hypothalamus via the pituitary gland: (1) acute, short-term response, or fear-fight-flight reaction mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, and (2) chronic, longer-term response via the endocrine glands with the adrenal cortex playing a major role. The short-term response is characterized by the increased production of norepinephrine from the nerve endings and also from the medulla. This results in an increase in heart rate, glucose level, and blood pressure. The long-term response is characterized by the increased production of cortisol, growth hormone, and thyroid hormones. The increase in these hormones affects glucose, protein, and fat metabolism accompanied by the decreased inflammatory and immune system response, increased blood pressure and metabolic rate, increased aldosterone resulting in salt and water retention, and a decrease in gonadal function that may result in stress-related cessation of menstrual period.