CVR 4: Respiratory Flashcards
What two areas of the brain not in the medulla oblongata are involved in the control of breathing?
Pneumotaxic and apneustic centres in the pons.
How many different areas of the brain are involved in controlling breathing?
Four
What areas of the brain not in the pons are involved in the control of breathing?
Dorsal respiratory group and ventral respiratory group, both in the medulla oblongata.
Which area of the medulla oblongata is predominantly active during inspiration?
The dorsal respiratory group (DRG).
What is the central pattern generator?
A neural network in the dorsal and ventral respiratory groups in the medulla oblongata, provides background ventilatory drive.
Concentration of which gas predominantly influences breathing?
CO2
Where are the central chemoreceptors and what do they monitor in regards to breathing?
In the brainstem.
CO2 passes across blood/brain barrier, leading to increase in hydrogen ions in CSF (bicarbonate buffer system).
Hydrogen ion concentration is monitored by chemoreceptors in the brainstem.
Where are the peripheral chemoreceptors for respiration and what do they measure?
Carotid bodies and aortic arch.
Measure PaCO2 predominantly, but also measure PaO2 and pH.
If PaO2 increases, what happens to minute ventilation?
Increases.
In hypoxia, does a given PaCO2 level trigger higher or lower minute ventilation?
Higher.
What are the three types of mechanoreceptors in the lungs that send afferent information to the respiratory control centres via the vagus nerve?
Stretch, irritant, and “J” (juxtapulmonary capillary)
Where are the receptors, activated by swallowing, which prevent respiratory activity during swallowing?
The pharynx.
Why can x-rays be dangerous?
They are a form of ionising radiation, which can damage tissue, cells, and DNA (mutagen).
What colour are more dense structures on an x-ray? Give an example.
White. E.g. bones.
On a chest x-ray, why is the diaphragm higher on the right?
Due to the presence of the liver.
