Defense Physiology

Still thinking about a place to function as a physiologist? Then here you go... This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

Defense physiology is a term used to refer to the symphony of body function (physiology) changes which occur in response to a stress or threat. When the body executes the “ fight-or-flight" reaction or stress response, the nervous system initiates, coordinates and directs specific changes in how the body is functioning ( physiology), preparing the body to deal with the threat. (See also General Adaptation Syndrome.) Definitions stress : As it pertains to the termdefense physiology, the termstressrefers to aperceived threatto the continued functioning of the body / life according to its current state. threat : What constitutes athreatas it pertains todefense physiology? Athreatmay be consciously recognized or not. A physical event (a loud noise or car collision), a chemical or a biological agent which alters (or has the possibility to alter) body function ( physiology) away from optimum or healthy functioning (or away from its current state of functioning) may be perceived as athreat(also called a stressor). Life circumstances, though posing no immediate physical danger, could be perceivedas a threat. Anything that could change the continuing of the person’s life as they are currently experiencing it could be perceived as athreat. Physiological reactions to threat (or perceived threat) A threat may be eitherempirical(an outside observer may agree that the event or circumstance poses a threat) ora priori(an outside observer would not agree that the event or circumstance poses a threat). What is important to the individual, in terms of the body’s response, is that a threat is perceived. The perceptionof athreatmay also trigger an associated ‘feeling of distress’. Physiological reactions triggered by mind cannot differentiate both the physical or mental threat separately, Hence the "fight-or-flight" response of mind for the both reactions will be same. Duration of threat and its different physiological effects on the nervous system. Acute Stress Reaction- The body executes the “ Fight-or-flight” reaction to get the body out of danger quickly. When the timing between thethreatand the resolution of thethreatare close, the “ fight-or-flight" reaction is executed, thethreatis handled, and the body returns to its previous state (taking care of the business of life - digestion, relaxation, tissue repair etc.). The body is designed to stay in this mode for only a short time. Chronic Stress State- When the timing between thethreatand the resolution of thethreatare more distant (thethreator the perception ofthreatis prolonged or otherthreatsoccur before the body has recovered), the “ fight- or-flight" reaction continues and becomes the new ‘standard operating condition’ of the body, chronic Defense Physiology. Continuing in this mode produces significant negative effects ( distress) in many aspects of body functioning (physical, mental and emotional distress). See also
*. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis vt e Physiologytypes Animals
*. Fish physiology
*. Human physiology 
*. Insect physiology
*. Physiology of dinosaurs Plants
*. Plant physiology 
*. Plant perception (physiology) 
*. Physiological plant disorders Cells
*. Cell physiology Related topics
*. Comparative physiology
 *. Electrophysiology 
*. Evolutionary physiology
*. Molecular physiology

No comments:

Post a Comment