The physical arousal of emotion is created by the

• A. pituitary gland.
• B. spinal cord.
• C. heart.
• D. sympathetic nervous system.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of the sympathetic nervous system: It is part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response, which includes increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and other physiological changes associated with arousal.
2. Differentiate between the sympathetic nervous system and other options: The pituitary gland is involved in hormone release, the spinal cord is a pathway for neural signals, and the heart is an organ affected by the nervous system but not a creator of arousal.
3. Recognize that the sympathetic nervous system activates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, which contributes to the physical arousal associated with emotions.
4. Consider the physiological changes that occur during emotional arousal, such as increased heart rate and energy mobilization, which are orchestrated by the sympathetic nervous system.
5. Conclude that the sympathetic nervous system is the correct answer because it directly initiates the physical changes in the body that are associated with emotional arousal.