Flight
Flight (medical term)
Flight (pronounced: /flaɪt/) is a term used in the medical field, particularly in psychology and neuroscience, to describe one of the primary responses to perceived threat or danger, commonly known as the "fight or flight" response.
Etymology
The term "flight" in this context originates from the natural world, where animals often flee, or take "flight", from threats. It was first used in a medical context by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in the early 20th century.
Definition
In the context of the "fight or flight" response, "flight" refers to the instinctive impulse to escape from a threatening situation. This response is triggered by the release of hormones such as adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and cortisol, which prepare the body for a quick getaway.
Related Terms
- Fight or flight response: A physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.
- Adrenaline: A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.
- Cortisol: A steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones, produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration.
- Stress (biology): Biological response to a stressor including an onset of a fight or flight response.
- Walter Bradford Cannon: An American physiologist, professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School. He first used the term "fight or flight" to describe an animal's response to threats.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Flight
- Wikipedia's article - Flight
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