fight-or-flight response

fight-or-flight response,

n the psychophysiologic response to a perceived threat that prepares the organism for action.

---

fight-or-flight response

Flight-or-fight response, general adaptation syndrome, stress response Physiology A constellation of physiologic responses to fear or perceived stress imminent danger or anticipated pain, which triggers full-scale CNS activation and release of 'stressors' by adrenal medulla–eg epinephrine and norepinephrine and cortex–eg corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, kidneys–renin, pancreas–insulin Clinical Tachycardia, ↑ blood flow to muscle, ↑ BP, muscle tone, ↑ O₂ consumption, sweating, ↑ respiratory rate, tremor, pallor, ↑ inotropism, vasoconstriction, mydriasis, bronchodilation, hyperglycemia. Cf Relaxation response.