When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, which division of the autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for stimulating the release of glucose into the bloodstream?

• A. Parasympathetic nervous system
• B. Enteric nervous system
• C. Sympathetic nervous system
• D. Somatic nervous system

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in regulating involuntary physiological processes, including blood glucose levels.
2. Recall that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is part of the ANS and is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response, which includes increasing blood glucose levels to provide energy during stress or emergencies.
3. Learn that the SNS stimulates the release of glucose into the bloodstream by signaling the liver to break down glycogen into glucose (a process called glycogenolysis) and by promoting gluconeogenesis (the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources).
4. Differentiate the sympathetic nervous system from other divisions of the ANS, such as the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for 'rest and digest' functions) and the enteric nervous system (which primarily controls gastrointestinal functions).
5. Recognize that the somatic nervous system is not part of the autonomic nervous system and is instead responsible for voluntary control of skeletal muscles, making it unrelated to glucose regulation in this context.