Fight-or-flight response

The fight-or-flight response (pronounced: /faɪt ɔːr flaɪt rɪˈspɒns/) is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.

Etymology

The term "fight-or-flight" was first coined by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in the early 20th century. It describes the body's response to stress, which prepares an individual to either confront or flee from potential harm.

Definition

The fight-or-flight response is a complex reaction to stress triggered by the release of hormones such as adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and cortisol. These hormones prepare the body for immediate physical action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. The response also involves the dilation of pupils and the slowing of digestion.

Related Terms

Stress (biology): The body's method of reacting to a challenge or physical and psychological barrier.
Adrenaline: A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.
Cortisol: A steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones, produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration.
Sympathetic nervous system: Part of the nervous system that serves to speed up the heart rate, contract blood vessels, and raise blood pressure.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Fight-or-flight response
Wikipedia's article - Fight-or-flight response

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Fight-or-flight response