A woman is taking a hike and sees a rattlesnake appear on the path near her feet. She is startled and as a result, her heart rate increases and she runs in the opposite direction. The woman's heart rate is able to increase because heart rate is not maintained through homeostasis. True / False.

False

Explanation:

When there is any dangerous situation or someone is frightened, then the flight and fight system of the body gets activated.

At chemical level the body releases  a series of hormones which makes a person alert of the situation. Rather, the respiratory rate, heartbeat, perspiration also increases in the body.

Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for keeping the person alive and alert at this time and to help the body run out of the situation.

The fat and sugar makes our brochi open wider which increases the heart beat and breathing.

Normally the heart beat or heart rate is controlled by the parasympathetic and  sympathetic nervous system of the body. The sympathetic nervous system controls the fight and flight part and the sympathetic nervous system controls the rest and digest part of the body.

So, it is the sympathetic nervous system which controls the heart beat of the body at the time of flight or fight, not the homeostasis.