During a clinical visit, a cat exhibits a rapid heart rate and dilated pupils. Which division of the autonomic nervous system is activated?

The correct answer is the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response. When activated, the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations. This preparation includes increasing the heart rate to pump more blood to vital organs and dilating the pupils to improve vision under low light levels, enabling better perception of the surrounding environment.

In this scenario, the rapid heart rate and dilated pupils observed in the cat suggest that the body is reacting to a perceived threat or stressor, which aligns with the function of the sympathetic nervous system. This division of the autonomic nervous system mobilizes the body’s resources, allowing for quick reactions and increased alertness, demonstrating its critical role in survival responses.

The other divisions mentioned do not exhibit these specific functions. The parasympathetic nervous system primarily promotes 'rest and digest' activities, which would counteract the signs of stress. The enteric nervous system focuses on the gastrointestinal tract, and the somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary muscle movements, neither of which would manage the rapid heart rate and pupil dilation observed in this clinical scenario.