Physiology Flashcards
what does medulla rhythmicity control?
basic level control
inspiratory (DRG) and expiratory areas (VRG)
what is the pneumotoaxic area?
helps coordinate the transition between inspiration and expiration
what is the apneustic group?
sends impulses to inspiratory area that activate it and prolong inspiration and inhibit expiration
what is the dorsal respiratory group?
input from IX and X nerves into medulla
input ends inspiration
what is ventral respiratpry group?
inactive in normal/ quiet breathing as DRG is active
expiration is passive
activity increases with exercise, dyspnoea, lung disease
what is the function of respiratory control?
maintain homeostasis - gases/ pH
maximises mechanical activity for efficiency
adapts to needs
speech, coughing, exercise, disease
what does cortical control include?
brainstem control - pons medulla
ventilatory pump - resp muscles
sensors - chemoreceptors/ mechanoreceptors
what is the function of cortical control?
negative feedback
modifies amount and type of breathing
modifies chemical and mechanical state
where are the two higher centres responsible for rhythm control?
- cerebral cortex
- hypothalamus and limbic system
what does the cerebral cortex do in relation to rhythm control?
voluntarily changes breathing patterns, overridden by stimuli of increased arterial [H+] and [CO2]
- if you hold breathing then faint, normal breathing continues - kids who hold breath, brainstem will override
what does the hypothalamus and limbic system do in relation to rhythm control?
emotional changes
how does ventilation rate and depth increase?
- Voluntary hyperventilation by cerebral cortex
- Anticipation of activity via stimulation of limbic system (behaviour and emotion)
- Increase in arterial [H+] above 40mmHg, dramatic decrease in O2 detected by central and peripheral chemoreceptors
- Increase in sensory impulses from proprioceptors in muscles and joints and increase in motor impulses from motor cortex
- Decrease in blood pressure detected by baroreceptors
- Increase in body temp
- Prolonged pain
- Stretching and sphincter
how does ventilation rate and depth decrease by?
- Voluntary hypoventilation controlled by cerebral cortex
- Decrease in arterial [H+]
- Decrease in sensory impulses from proprioceptors (movement receptors) in muscles and joints and decrease in motor impulses
- Increase in Bp detected by baroreceptors
- Severe pain (nociceptors) causes apnoea
- Irritation of pharynx/ larynx by touch/ chemicals causes apnoea followed by coughing/ sneezing
what are the two types of peripheral chemoreceptors?
carotid and aortic
what is the role of the peripheral chemoreceptors?
send signals via glossopharyngeal (carotid) and aortic (vagus)
respond by altering firing rate
negative feedback mechanism
respond to O2, pH and hypercapnia
how does the peripheral chemoreceptor’s respond to oxygen?
respond to PaO2 - drop must be very dramatic so it doesn’t interact with daily breathing
hypoxia potentiates other responses
how does peripheral chemoreceptors respond to arterial pH?
more sensitive response
more [H+] - acidosis - more firing for more ventilation
less [H+] - alkalosis - decreased ventilation
how does peripheral chemoreceptors respond to CO2?
can respond to hypercapnia but fairly insensitive
describe the carotid bodies?
both small nodules (2mg), highest blood flow in any tissue
very high metabolic rate
type I glomus cells - chemosensitizer cells of carotid
can detect hypoxia - only peripheral chemoreceptor which can
what effect does the aortic chemoreceptors have?
systemic
can lower blood flow - affected by anaemia, sepsis, hypotension
what is the role of central chemoreceptors?
main source of tonic drive (slow/ graded) quiet breathing - eupenic control
powerful influence on respiratory centre - primary source for feedback for assessing ventilation effectiveness
what do central chemoreceptors primarily respond to?
PaCO2 - changes to CSF pH
insensitive to hypoxia
what is chronic hypercapnia?
- Respiratory acidosis
- Bicarbonate compensations return the brain pH back to normal so central chemoreceptors are less sensitive to further changes in PaCO2
- Central chemoreceptors drive depressed – minute ventilation depends on hypoxia via carotid bodies
- If pure O2 given – depresses carotid response and will reduce hypoxic ventilation drive
- Could depress ventilation, increase PaCO2, induce come (CO2 narcosis)
- Increase in partial pressure above 45mmHg
- Causes – COPD, lung diseases, renal impairment – decompensation
what does chronic hypercapnia do to ventilation?
chemoreceptor adaptation and depressed ventilation
how does the parasympathetic NS control respiration?
slows breathing rate down
causes bronchial tubes to narrow and pulmonary vessels to widen
how does sympathetic NS affect respiration?
increases breathing rate
causes bronchial tubes to widen and pulmonary blood vessels narrow
what do sensors within airways do?
detect lung irritants
sensory trigger sneezing/ coughing
chemoreceptors
what is central sleep apnoea?
brain temporarily stops sending muscles needed to breathe
what is hypoxemia?
low oxygen levels within the blood
what is hypoxia?
low oxygen levels within tissues