Respiratory - S&H Flashcards
What is the role of the medulla in respiration?
Respiratory center
Site responsible for the generation of the respiratory pattern and coordination of voluntary and involuntary input
What is the central pattern generator?
A complex collection of neurons that form a pacemaker system for respiration
Where are these pacemaker neurons predominantly concentrated in the medulla?
the Pre-Botzinger complex
What are the three phases of the respiratory cycle?
1: inspiratory phase. Characterized by a sudden onset of activity of early inspiratory neurons and a ramp increase in inspiratory augmenting neurons, resulting in motor discharge to inspiratory muscles and airway dilators.
2: postinspiratory phase or expiratory phase I. Characterized by declining motor discharge to inspiratory muscles and passive exhalation. Expiratory decrementing neurons decrease in activity, resulting in a decline in laryngeal adductor muscle tone that functions as a mechanical brake to expiratory flow.
3: expiratory/expiratory phase II. There is no inspiratory muscle activity.
Which neurotransmitters influence the CPG?
Glutamate (typically excitatory)
GABA and glycine (inhibitory)
What is the role of the dorsal respiratory group neurons?
Generation of the respiratory pattern and coordination of respiratory activity.
Mostly inspiratory neurons.
What is the role of the ventral respiratory group neurons?
The VRG neurons are inspiratory and expiratory neurons. The function depends on the specific sub group of neurons in this area.
Where is the DRG located?
In close relation to the nucleus tractus solitaries at the termination of visceral afferents from CN IX and X. These nerves carry information that may influence control of breathing, including pH, arterial PO2/PCO2 (from carotid and aortic chemoreceptors) and systemic arterial blood pressure (from carotid/aortic baroreceptors). The vagus nerve also transmits stretch information from stretch receptors in the lungs.
What are the four main collections of neurons within the VRG?
- Caudal ventral respiratory group (nucleus retroambigualis and nucleus paraambigualis) - expiratory function, governs forces of contraction of inspiratory muscles.
- Rostral ventral respiratory group (mostly composed of the nucleus ambiguous) - controls airway dilator functions of the larynx, pharynx, and tongue
- The pre-Botzinger complex - essential for pacemaker activity
- The Botzinger complex (within the nucleus retrofacialis) - extensive expiratory functions
What is the pontine respiratory group?
A collection of neurons in the pons which functions to fine-tune the breathing pattern; previously called pneumotaxic center. Increased activity of neurons within this region can promote termination of inspiration, and experimental lesions in the PRG can lead to increase in the duration of inspiration
What does experimental disconnection of the apneustic center from the DRG result in?
Apneustic breathing pattern
Which area of the brain controls voluntary breathing?
The cortex
What does the suprapontine region control?
Involuntary breathing during actions such as coughing, sneezing, swallowing, chewing food
What descending pathways does neural input follow after leaving the brain?
They leave the brain etc. and travel through pathways in the white matter of the spinal cord to directly affect lower motor neurons to different groups of respiratory muscles
Central chemoreceptors are sensitive to brain interstitial fluid pH, which mainly results from changes in PCO2 in the CSF, but can also be altered by ____ and ____
Cerebral blood flow
Brain metabolism
Peripheral chemoreceptors respond rapidly, within ___ to ___ seconds, to a decline in PaO2, rise in PaCO2, rise in H+ concentration, or hypo perfusion
1-3 seconds
How does the central chemoreceptor communicate with the CPG?
Connections to the nearby CPG
What specific cell type in the peripheral chemoreceptors senses oxygen?
Glomus type I cells
Information from the peripheral chemoreceptors is transmitted to the respiratory sinus via —–
Afferent information from the gloms cells is transmitted to the respiratory center via the carotid sinus nerves (branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve from the carotid body) and vagus nerve (from the aortic bodies) resulting in an increased rate and depth of breathing
In the healthy individual, _____ is the most important factor affecting control of breathing
PCO2
Central chemoreceptors have been attributed to account for approximately ___ - ___% of the response to CO2 (compared to peripheral chemoreceptors)
60-80%
Central chemoreceptors are considered the monitors of steady-state arterial PaCO2, whereas the peripheral chemoreceptors detect and react to _____ and short-term changes in PaCO2, though the response to peripheral chemoreceptors results in ____ profound changes in ventilation.
Central chemoreceptors are considered the monitors of steady-state arterial PaCO2, whereas the peripheral chemoreceptors detect and react to RAPID and short-term changes in PaCO2, though the response to peripheral chemoreceptors results in LESS profound changes in ventilation.
Stretch receptors in the lungs communicate with the respiratory center (inspiratory area in the medulla and apneustic center in the pons) via __________
Large myelinated vagal fibers
What is the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex?
When over-inflation stimulates stretch receptors, and the negative feedback is protective and slows respiratory rate down.