Neural Control of Respiration Flashcards
What is respiration?
An automatic, rhythmic process adapted to meet changing requirements
What must occur for us to inspire?
contract the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
What nerves supply the diaphragm and intercostal muscles?
phrenic and intercostal nerves
What occurs when we breath out?
muscles used to inspire relax
Cease in discharge of action potentials and the chest recoils back to FRC
What does FRC stand for?
Functional Residual Capacity
What is the Functional Residual Capacity?
The volume left in the lungs at the end of normal expiration
What does the FRC act against?
Acts as a buffer against extreme changes in alveolar gas levels in each breath
Draw 2 diagrams showing the changes in tidal volume during inspiration and ecpiration and the number of active inspiratory neurons during the same processes
Do the respiratory muscles have intrinsci rhythmicity?
NO - not like the heart
What contains all the components to generate the rhythmic pattern of respiration?
brainstem
Where is the respiratory rhythm generated?
Medulla
How can you alter the pattern of breathing?
stimulating various areas of the brainstem
What are respiratory centres?
they are diffuse networks, possibly at higher desnity which are active together to bring about the respiratory effect
Where are respiratory centres located?
medulla oblongata and pons
What information do the respiratory centres collected?
collect sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and this determines the signal that is sent to respiratory muscles
What is the result of stimulation of respiratory muscles?
provides respiratory movements ehich produce alveolar ventilation
What is the aim of the pattern of breathing?
to minimise the amount of work done
What are the four medullary centres?
- Inspiratory centre
- expiratory centre
- pontine centre
- apneustic centre
Where is the inspiratory centre located and what can it be referred to as?
upper part of the medulla oblongata
Dorsal Respiratory Group
What is the function of the inspiratory centre>
concerned with inspiration
exclusively inspiratory neurons
Where is the expiratory centre located?
situated in the medulla oblongata, anterior and lateral to the inspiratory centre
What is another term for the expiratory centre and what type of neurons is it composed of?
ventral respiratory group (VRG)
mixture of inspiratory and expiratory neurons
What is the function of the expiratory centre?
centre is inative during quiet breathing and when inspiratory centre is active, but during forced breathing or when the inspiratory centre is inhibited it becomes active
What is another name for the pontine centre?
pneumotaxic centre
Where is the pontine centre located?
in the upper pons
What is the function of the pontine centre?
controls medullary respiratory centres, especially the inspiratory centre through the apneustic centre. It influences inspiratory centre so that the duration of inspiration is under control
Where is the apneustic centre located?
lower pons
What is the function of the apeustic centre?
increase the depth of respiration by acting on the inspiratory centre
How do afferent pathways deliver nerbous connections?
via vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves