Which subdivision of the autonomic nervous system mobilizes the body in times of stress and prepares for flight or fight?

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In times of stress, the body needs to mobilize energy and resources quickly. The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system does this by triggering the fight-or-flight response: heart rate and breathing speed up, pupils dilate, blood is directed toward the muscles, glucose is released for quick energy, and sweating may increase. This rapid, preparatory response gets the body ready to act. By contrast, the parasympathetic division promotes rest and digestion once the threat passes, slowing the body down and conserving energy. The somatic nervous system governs voluntary control of skeletal muscles, not autonomic arousal. So, the subdivision that mobilizes the body in stress is the sympathetic nervous system.