A patient awaiting selective surgery presents the following symptoms. Which of them indicate (s) a heightened activity of the sympathetic portion of his autonomic nervous system ?

Options

A. pale skin
B. sweaty plams
C. a yearning for water due to a dry mouth
D. all of the above

Answer

D

Explanation

The autonomic nervous system innervates all smooth muscle, and glands. The autonomic nervous system is divided into a sympathetic (flight and fight)· component and parasympathetic (maintains homeostasis) component. It exerts important influences on the intrinsic eye musculature, skin glands, and the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Fear, rage, pain, etc., evoke sympathetic activity which mobilizes the resounes of the body. Gastrointestinal activity is curtailed, heart rate and blood pressure increase, and coronary arteries and bronchioles dilate.