Week 6 RM - Respiratory Control Flashcards
What is the basic negative feedback mechanism that controls respiration?
Sensors detect changes in the gases, blood pressure etc
This information is transmitted to the central respiratory controller
It sends a response to an effector (respiratory muscles)
What areas of the brain compose the respiratory centre?
The medulla oblongata and the pons
What are the neuron groups found in the medulla?
Dorsal respiratory group (DRG)
Ventral Respiratory group (VRG)
What two centres are found in the Pontine Respiratory Centre?
Pneumotaxic centre
Apneustic centre
What is the role of the DRG?
Inspiratory neurons which cause the stimulation of contraction of respiratory muscles
The action of the DRG determines the timing of the respiratory cycle
What are the 4 basic steps involved in normal quiet inspiration?
- Impulses travel from the DRG
- The impulse reaches the level of the spinal cord at which it will synapse with a motor neuron cell body
- This motor neuron will travel along the phrenic/intercostal nerves to the respiratory muscles
- Contraction of these muscles causes inspiration to occur
What is the role of the pre-botzinger complex?
Thought to stimulate the DRG to send impulses
What is the inspiration ramp signal?
DRG signal to the respiratory muscles responsible for the gradual increased in contraction leading to steady increase in lung volume
How is exhalation achieved in normal quiet breathing?
The DRG signal ceases and inspiration muscles relax. This causes the passive recoil of the lungs to reduce volume and expel air
How can the ramp signal be altered?
It can increase more steeply, leading to a more rapid increase in lung volume
It can also be terminated early, causing shorter, more shallow breaths
What are the four nuclei in the DRG?
Nucleus retroambigualis
Nucleus ambiguus
Nucleus paraambigualis
Botzinger
What is the role of the nucleus retroambigualis?
Predominantly expiration motor neurons to the excitatory muscles on the opposite side of the body to which it is found in the brain
Usually only aids in forced expiration
What is the role of the nucleus ambiguus?
Dilator functions of the pharynx, larynx and tongue
Role of the nucleus paraambigualis?
Has a role in inspiration, to do with the force of contraction of the inspiratory muscles
What is the role of VRG neurons in normal quiet breathing?
Nothing. Almost totally inactive and do not participate in generating respiratory rhythm
What is the role of the VRG in forced breathing?
The inspiratory centre activates alongside the DRG to increase the lung volume to get extra air into the lungs.
During expiration the exploratory centre of the VRG is stimulated and causes forced expiration
What is the role of the pneumotaxic centre?
Controls the off switch for the DRG respiratory ramp (which limits inspiration)
Stimulation of this leads to decreased tidal volume and increased frequency of breathing