Lecture 28 - Chemical Control Of Breathing

Question 1

What do central chemoreceptors primarily detect

Answer 1

pH changes caused by PaCO2 in the central spinal fluid

Question 2

Characteristics of central chemoreceptors

Answer 2

They have a slow response time, can be altered by training and have a linear response mode

Question 3

What effect does hypoxia have on the response curve

Answer 3

It makes it steeper and may bring central chemoreceptor cells closer to firing threshold

Question 4

What do the peripheral chemoreceptors primarily detect

Answer 4

Decreases in PaO2 in the blood and airways

Question 5

Characteristics of peripheral chemoreceptors

Answer 5

They have a fast response time, cannot be altered by training and have a non-linear response

Question 6

What do peripheral chemoreceptors primarily respond to

Answer 6

Hypoxia but also respond to hypercapnia and acidosis

Question 7

At what values of pAo2 does the peripheral chemoreceptors response to hypoxia rapidly increase

Answer 7

60mmHg

Question 8

What is the response to hypoxia b peripheral chemoreceptors driven by

Answer 8

A low partial pressure of oxygen

Question 9

What effect do hypercapnia and acidosis have on the peripheral chemoreceptor

Answer 9

They raise the sensitivity of the chemoreceptor to pAo2