Control of Ventilation - Chemoreceptors Flashcards
What does stimulation ventilation require?
It requires the stimulation of the skeletal muscles of inspiration via the phrenic and intercostal nerves.
Where does ventilation control reside?
They reside in ill defined centres located in the pons and the medulla.
Is breathing subconscious?
Yes
What is breathing subject to?
Voluntary modulation
What happens when the spinal cord is severed above the phrenic nerve level (C3-5)?
Breathing ceases
What stimuli modulate the system of breathing in the respiratory system?
- Emotion (via limbic system in the brain)
- Voluntary overides (via higher centres of the brain)
- Mechano-receptors input from the thorax (stretch receptors)
- Chemical composition of the blood detected by chemoreceptors (PCO2, PO2 and pH)
What are the two groups of neurons that are in the respiratory centre?
Dorsal respiratory group of neurons - setting up stimulation of inspiratory muscles (diaphragm and external intercostal muscles)
Ventral Respiratory group - stimulates the muscles of the pharynx, larynx, tongue and the muscles of expiration.
Why is it really important for the ventral respiratory group to be active in stimulating a basal muscular tone during inspiration?
It helps to maintain a patent airways (an airway that is open)
What are the two types of chemoreceptors?
Central and peripheral
What are central chemoreceptors?
They are found in the central nervous system, in the medulla, they respond to hydrogen ions (directly reflects CO2), primary ventilatory drive.
- They detect changes in [H+] in the cerebospinal fluid around the brain
What are the peripheral chemoreceptors?
They are found in the carotid and aortic bodies, they respond to the change in partial pressure of oxygen and plasma [H+]
What happens when we get a rise in the [H+] of the cerebrospinal fluid?
Our rate and depth of breathing is increased.
What is hypercapnea?
An increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the systemic circulation.
Where are the H+ ions that the chemoreceptors are responding to derived from?
CO2 + H20 = H2CO3 = H+ and HCO3-
The H+ ions are derived from here.
When is ventilation inhibited?
When there is a decrease in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood which reduces the [H+] in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Does the central chemoreceptors respond to changes in plasma [H+]
No