Question

how does stress affect your nervous system?
a. signals digestive system to stop digesting food
b. signals musculoskeletal system to cause rapid and uncontrollable movements
c. signals endocrine system to produce hormones to elevate heart and breathing rate
d. signals the respiratory system to reduce the breathing rate

Explanation:

• Option A: Stress affecting the digestive system is about digestion, not the nervous system's direct effect on the nervous system's interaction with other systems in the context of stress's impact on the nervous system's signaling for the nervous system's role. Also, the question is about the nervous system's effect, and this option is about the digestive system's action, not the nervous system's signaling to other systems for the nervous system's own impact. But more importantly, when stressed, the nervous system (sympathetic) does inhibit digestion, but let's analyze other options too.
• Option B: The musculoskeletal system under stress has muscle tension, not rapid and uncontrollable movements. Uncontrollable movements are not a typical stress - induced musculoskeletal response.
• Option C: When stressed, the nervous system (sympathetic) signals the endocrine system (e.g., adrenal glands) to release hormones like adrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate and breathing rate, which is a key part of the fight - or - flight response, and this is a direct way stress affects the nervous system's interaction with the endocrine system to impact physiological functions related to the nervous system's regulation.
• Option D: Stress increases breathing rate, not reduces it, as the body needs more oxygen during stress.

Answer:

C. signals endocrine system to produce hormones to elevate heart and breathing rate