Control of Breathing Flashcards
What is the path of action potentials in the respiratory system?
Sensors to respiratory centres to effectors
How can one adjust their breathing?
Change in rate
Change in respiratory motor nerve activity
What are respiratory centres?
Multi sub nuclei within the medulla oblongata
How is physiological pH established?
By the communion of O2 and CO2
What may be relayed to the following inhalation?
Deviations from the set point
What part of the brain is critical for automatic breathing?
Medulla oblongata
What part of the brain is required for perfect breathing?
The pons
What are the pillars of the respiratory control system?
Chemical control
Protective receptors
Complex functions
What is the dominant message sent to the respiratory control system?
Chemical control
What is the main role of chemical control?
Blood gas homeostasis
Name a complex function of the respiratory control system?
speech
Name a protective response of the respiratory control system
Cough
What are the two major influences of breathing?
CNS
Sensory queuing
What is alveolar ventilation usually coupled with?
Whole body metabolism
What is the role of suprapontine structures?
Send direct and indirect neural circuits to respiratory centres
Give an example of a suprapontine site.
Amygdala
What is another way that suprapontine sites function?
Hijacking motor pathways
Define hyperventilation.
Breathing in excess of metabolic needs
What does hyperventilation cause and what does this lead to?
Hypocapnia
Creates acid-base disturbance
Define hyperpnoea.
Increased breathing that matches the metabolic needs
Define tachypnoea.
Increased respiratory rate above normal; often shallow, rapid breathing
What is tachypnoea detected by?
J receptors
What is the role of J receptors?
Detect pulmonary congestion in lungs
Define hypoventilation.
Breathing sufficient to meet metabolic needs yet decreased rate of breathing
What does hypoventilation cause?
Hypercapnia
Define apnoea.
Absence of air flow due to lack of respiratory effort or airway obstruction
What is a common cause of apnoea?
Opioid overdose
Define dyspnoea.
Laboured breathing/shortness of breath
What causes dyspnoea?
Passive lack of movement of thoracic structures
Which part of the brain is a relay station for afferent information?
NTS
What is the function of the pre Botzinger Complex?
Generates rhythm
Inspiratory oscillator
What is the role of the ventral respiratory group?
Inspiratory and expiratory neural activity
What is the function of the Botzinger complex?
Expiratory centre
What is the conditional oscillator/expiratory centre in the brain?
Parafacial respiratory gorup
Which muscles are obligatory to be used during respiration?
Inspiratory muscles i.e. diaphragm
Which muscles are conditional muscles in respiration?
Expiratory muscles such as abdominals
When are expiratory muscles used?
Only during active breathing
Where in the brain is a chemosensitive CO2 site?
Retrotrapezoid nucleus
What does the post-inspiratory complex do?
Controls early post inspiratory outflow
During respiration, what is the role of the inspiratory oscillator?
Generates spontaneous inspiratory rhythm
What is the respiratory pattern determined by?
Network activity
Neuromodulation
What are the three phases of respiration?
Inspiratory phase
Early expiration phase
Late expiration phase
Describe the inspiratory phase of respiration
Critical for ventilation
Activates obligatory and accessory muscles
Upper airway dilation facilitates airflow
Describe the early expiratory phase of respiration
Critical for slowing of expiratory flow
Laryngeal narrowing protects functional residual capacity
Describe the late expiratory phase of respiration
Essential for active breathing
Abdominal muscle recruitment facilitates large tidal volume
