MALung/BMSN2202/Resp/15-16

REGULATION OF BREATHING I

Neural Control of Breathing

1. Central Controller
i. Inspiratory Center - motor center for inspiration; in medulla oblongata.
ii. Expiratory Center - motor center for expiration; in medulla oblongata.
iii. Pneumotaxic Center - co-ordinating center facilitating the transition from inspiration to
expiration; in upper pons.
iv. Apneustic Center - co-ordinating center inhibiting the transition from inspiration to
expiration; in middle and lower pons.

2. Neural pathways connecting the respiratory centers and the respiratory system
i. from inspiratory center to expiratory center and vice versa (-).
ii. from inspiratory center to pneumotaxic center (+).
iii. from pneumotaxic center to apneustic center (-).
iv. from apneustic center to inspiratory center (+).
v. from higher centers to pneumotaxic center (+/-).
vi. from inspiratory and expiratory centers to inspiratory and expiratory muscles
respectively (+).
vii. from the respiratory system to inspiratory and expiratory centers (+).
viii. Breur-Hering Reflex.

3. Sensors
i. chemoreceptors (important role in the chemical control of breathing).
ii. lung receptors (irritant, stretch and J-receptors).

Learning objectives:
You should now be able to:
1. describe the sites and functions of the regions in the brain necessary for a normal respiratory
pattern.
2. discuss the genesis of a respiratory cycle.
3. describe the functions of the lung receptors (irritant, stretch and J-receptors).
4. state the effect of vagotomy on the breathing pattern.

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 MALung/BMSN2202Resp/15-16

REGULATION OF BREATHING II

Chemical Control of Breathing

1. Response to CO2 tension

i. V - PACO2 Relationship
For the normal range of PACO2 (40 - 60 mm Hg), V - PACO2 curve assumes a
rectilinear shape. In the lower range of PACO2 (<40 mm Hg), ventilation becomes
parallel to the x-axis. In the higher range of PACO2 (>60 mm Hg), ventilation falls.
ii. Mechanism for CO2 Regulation
Mechanism involves central and peripheral chemoreceptors via formation of H+ ions in
CSF and blood respectively.

2. The response to O2 tension

i. V - PAO2 Relationship
Decreasing PAO2 does not reliably stimulate ventilation until PAO2 falls to 50 -60 mm
Hg. With isocapnia, the ventilatory response to O2 lack is greater.
ii. Mechanism for O2 regulation
Mechanism involes stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors via a fall in PaO2.

3. The response to pH

i. V - pH Relationship
A decrease in pH stimulates ventilation while an increase in pH decreases ventilation.
ii. Mechanism for pH regulation
Mechanism involves peripheral chemoceptors via changes in blood H+ ions.

Learning objectives:
You should now be able to:
1. describe the locations and stimuli for chemoreceptors.
2. states the effects of changes in PaO2, PaCO2 and pH on breathing.

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 1

Pons

Medulla oblongata

Spinal cord
2

1
3

2
 Inspiration
- paths 4, 6, 1
lung inflation

Expiration
- stretch receptors,
paths 8, 4
(vagal feedback)
- paths 2, 3, 4
(pneumotaxic feedback)
passive lung deflation

Inspiration
- stretch receptors,
paths 7, 8, 4, 6
lung inflation

Voluntary control of V
- path 5
5

Peripheral Chemoreceptors

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 Pons

Central
Chemoreceptors

Medulla oblongata

Spinal cord
7

metabolic control of V

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Central chemoreceptors are located on the ventrolateral surface of medulla oblongata and
detect changes in pH of cerebrospinal fluid. They have also been shown experimentally
to respond to hypercapnic hypoxia (elevated CO2, decreased O2), and eventually
desensitize . These are sensitive to pH and CO2.

Peripheral chemoreceptors: consists of aortic and carotid bodies. Aortic body detects
changes in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide, but not pH, while carotid body detects all
three. They do not desensitize. 4
***Their effect on breathing rate is less than that of the central chemoreceptors.***
 like fluid enters into the pleural cavity
lung & airway
diseases
stimulated by

vagus nerve involved in producing

regular
breathing rhythm

in-between
lung disease

9
rapid shallow breathing

Learning objectives:

1. describe the sites and functions of the regions in

the brain necessary for a normal respiratory
pattern.

2. discuss the genesis of a respiratory cycle.

3. describe the functions of chemoreceptors and

lung receptors (irritant, stretch and J-receptors).

4. state the effect of vagotomy on the breathing

pattern.

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5
 PACO2 > 60 mm Hg
response coefficient
increase conc. in the brain central depression

PACO2 40 - 60 mm Hg
high response coefficient
3 L/min/mm Hg
slight increase in CO2 rapidly stimulates increase in ventilation
minute to minute
metabolic control of V

PACO2 < 40 mm Hg
V independent of PCO2
wakefulness drive

awake: obtain environmental info. from medulla oblongata

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Central Chemoreceptors
only CO2 diffuse freely in the brain, but not H and HCO3 ions

Medulla
Oblongata

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6
 stimulation through the formation of H+ ions

it penetrates the blood-brain barrier

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CO2 is a potent ventilatory stimulant

low PO2 doesnt matter

PAO2 < 60 mm Hg
stimulates V
sigmoid shape of O2
dissociation curve

Low response coefficient

PCO2 constant = high response 0.25 L/min/mm Hg
braking effect of
hypocapnia ( PCO2)

Unimportant in
physiological control
PACO2 of V

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7
 hypoxemia triggers chemoreceptor reflex
(Chemoreceptor activity, however, also affects cardiovascular function either directly (by interacting with medullary
vasomotor centers) or indirectly (via altered pulmonary stretch receptor activity))

act directly on peripheral not central chemo receptor

lessens initial V
high level of CO2 diffuses across the blood brain barrier

lessens initial V

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PCO2

PCO2

high PCO2

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Ventilation increases > pH decreases

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 (Respiratory Acidosis)

accumulation of CO2

via blood pH change

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increased production of H+ in the body

H+ is not related to CO2

(non-CO2)

like hypoxemia cuz PCO2 in the blood falls lessens initial V

lessens initial V

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Learning objectives:

1. describe the locations and stimuli for

chemoreceptors.

2. states the effects of changes in PaO2, PaCO2

and pH on breathing.

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References:

1. Human Physiology the mechanisms of

body function
ed. Vander, Sherman & Luciano.

2. Respiratory Physiology the essentials.

ed. J West.

3. Human Physiology and mechanisms of

disease.
ed. A Guyton.

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