Always in motion is the future.

GE 345: Week 3

Regulation of Respiration

Updated by Tracey 23 July 02

Respiration is generally controlled by the dorsal respiratory group of neurons, in the dorsal portion of the medulla. Pneumotaxic neurons, located dorsally on the upper pons, control duration and depth of inspiration -- resulting in short but weak or long but full intakes of air. Ventral respiratory neuraons are typically inactive during normal respiration, and typically function to enhance expiration by providing powerful expiratory signals to increase pulmonary ventilation.

A chemosensitive area of the brain responds to CO₂ or hydrogen ion concentrations, and in turn stimulates other respiratory nerve centers.

Peripheral chemoreceptors detect oxygen changes in the blood as well as carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion concentrations. These peripheral receptors respond by stimulating the appropriate respiratory nerve centers.

During activity, ventilation increases with metabolic rate. It is believed that impulses from the higher brain centers, as well as proprioceptive stimulatory reflexes are the reason for this adaptation.