Respiratory system: chemical and neuronal control mechanisms Flashcards
neural control of respiration
central rhythm generator in medulla (automatic)
Receptors in respiratory tract causing sneezing, coughing and hyperpnoea (incr rate and depth of breathing)
Nociceptors- detect noxious substances
Chemical control of respiration
central and peripheral chemoreceptors
Medulla control
ventral and dorsal respiratory group:
- discharge rhythmically
- efferent (output) neurones to respiratory motor nerves
- receives afferent input from periphery and pons
Pons control
Apneustic centre:
prolongs medullary centre firing
so depth of breathing incr
Pneumotaxic centre:
Inhibits apneustic centre
Controls rate of breathing
Pre-Botzinger complex
Region of ventral respiratory group
Spontaneous rhythmic discharge
stimulates rhythmic discharge of motor nerves, resulting in contraction of diaphragm
Key in regulation of breathing- without it there is a loss of regular rhythm and CO2 responsiveness
Are cortical/higher centres essential for breathing
No, but no longer voluntary control without them
Transection above pons
loss of voluntary control
Transection above medulla
loss of feedback regulation from pons (above medulla)
breathing continues
Transection of spinal cord
breathing abolished
Voluntary control of breathing
via cerebral cortex
sends signals direct to respiratory motor neurones
lung transplant
Motor innervation is to skeletal muscle, so ventilation carries on
Preservation of cough
from tracheal stimulation
But loss of cough stimulation in lower airway
Loss of Hering-Breuer reflex (prevents over inflation of the lung)
chemoreceptors
central and peripheral
Central (medullary)- H+, CO2
Peripheral- cartoid and aortic bodies. Primary peripheral signal is O2, but also input from H+
PO2
partial pressure of oxygen
PCO2
partial pressure of CO2
PaO2
partial pressure of arterial oxygen
PaCO2
Partial pressure of arterial CO2
PAO2
partial pressure alveolar oxygen
Central control of respiration
HCO3- and H+ don’t easily cross BB
CO2- uncharged- does cross BBB and dissociates in CSF
Hence CO2 larger influence on ventilation than pH