Which division of the nervous system primarily arouses the body during stress?

• A. Parasympathetic nervous system
• B. Central nervous system
• C. Sympathetic nervous system
• D. Somatic nervous system

Answer: (C)

When stress hits, the body needs to be ready to act quickly, and that readiness is driven by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This system triggers the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, speeding up breathing, dilating pupils, and mobilizing energy stores so muscles can respond. This is the arousal you feel during stress, preparing you for action.

In contrast, the parasympathetic division calms the body down after the threat passes, promoting rest and digestion. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is the main processing center for signals but isn’t the specific driver of automatic arousal in stress. The somatic nervous system handles voluntary movements and conscious sensation, not the automatic arousal involved in stress.