The correct
answer is c. hypothalamus to pituitary gland to adrenal glands.
When
it comes to stress, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is responsible for
stress response. Hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
which binds to its receptors on the anterior pituitary gland. As a result, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is released and it stimulates the release of
cortisol from the adrenal gland. At a certain levels of cortisol, this steroid
hormone exerts negative feedback to the hypothalamic release of CRH.