During sympathetic activation, which digestive process is inhibited?

During sympathetic activation, which digestive process is inhibited?

• A. Digestion stops
• B. Digestion increases
• C. Digestion remains unchanged
• D. Digestion accelerates

Answer: (A)

During sympathetic activation, the body prepares for action, pulling resources away from maintenance functions like digestion. Norepinephrine released by sympathetic nerves slows down the GI tract—reducing motor movement, suppressing secretions from the stomach and other digestive glands, and constricting vessels to the gut, which lowers its blood supply. This combination markedly inhibits digestive activity, effectively stopping digestion during a strong sympathetic response. The other options would require the digestive system to become more active or stay the same, which runs opposite to how the sympathetic system behaves.

During sympathetic activation, the body prepares for action, pulling resources away from maintenance functions like digestion. Norepinephrine released by sympathetic nerves slows down the GI tract—reducing motor movement, suppressing secretions from the stomach and other digestive glands, and constricting vessels to the gut, which lowers its blood supply. This combination markedly inhibits digestive activity, effectively stopping digestion during a strong sympathetic response. The other options would require the digestive system to become more active or stay the same, which runs opposite to how the sympathetic system behaves.