REGULATORY MECHANISMS

Spontaneous respiration is produced by rhythmic discharge of motor

neurons that innervate the respiratory muscles.
Discharge is from nerve impulse the brain.

NERVOUS REGULATORY CENTER

CHEMICAL REGULATORY CENTRE

NERVOUS REGULATORY CENTRE

DIVIDED INTO
AUTONOMOUS CONTORL
VOLUNTARY CONTROL

AUTONOMOUS CONTROL
Two centre
MEDULLARY RESPIRATORY CENTRE
PONTINE RESPIRATORY CENTRE

MEDULLARY RESPIRATORY CENTRE

LOCATION - ventro lateral medulla

Respiratory neurons of two types
I ) I neurons-inspiratory neurons- discharge during inspiration
II ) E neurons – expiratory neurons- discharge during expiration

NOTE- I and E neurons have inhibitory relation to each other.

LOCATION -TWO groups in medulla.

DORSAL

- located in tractus solitarius.

Consists mainly of I neurons
 AFFERENTS- Airways and aortic and carotid bodies.

VENTRAL
Location – nucleus ambiguous
Divided into

c cranial division innervates accessory muscles of respiration

c caudal division innervates the intercostal muscles.

PONTINE RESPIRATORY CENTRE

DIVIDE ANTO

1. APNEUSTIC CENTRE
Location – LOWER PONS
ROLE- activates the I neurons in medulla.
Inhibited by vagus nerve afferents from airways and lung.

2. PNEUMOTAXIC CENTRE
Location - UPPER PONS
Contains both I and E neurons
Inhibits the neurons in lower pons, preventing apneusis.

APPLIED

IF VAGUS CUT THEN EFFECT ON MEDULLA

VOLUNTARY CONTROL OF RESPIRATION

Pathway – corticospinal tract

Origin – cerebral cortex
Ends - spinal motor neurons
Action – innervate respiratory muscles.

Voluntary inspiration
Activated by apneustic centre in lower pons

Expiration
 c pneumotaxic centre in upper pons sends inhibitory impulses to
apneustic centre.
c pulmonary stretch receptors on stimulation during inspiration send
inhibitory impulses to apneustic centre
c pneumotaxic centre send impulses to expiratory centre

FACTORS AFFECTING RESPIRATORY CENTRE

1. AFFERENTS FROM HIGHER CENTRES

Cerebral cortex
Mediated by- I . corticospinal tracts
Hypothalamus
Pain , anxiety,fear

2. PULMONARY STRETCH RECEPTORS

Location- smooth muscles of the airway

Inflation of the lungs stimulates stretch receptors in lungs

Leading to inhibition of apneustic centre by vagus nerve

HERING BREUR INFLATION REFLEX.

HERING BREUR DEFLATION REFLEX

During deflation of lung, decrease in expiration

J RECEPTORS

Location - alveolar wall

Hyperinflation of lungs stimulates J receptors.
Stimulates pneumotaxic centre, inhibiting inspiration.

J RECEPTORS sensitive to pulmonary congestion,

Pulmonary edema
Irritants of lung

APPLIED
AFFERENTS FROM PROPRIOCEPTORS

Movements of joints stimulates inspiratory neurons

Increase ventilation during exercise

AFFERENTS FROM AIRWAYS

STIMULATION of receptors in airways causes sneezing, coughing,

tachypnea and bronchoconstriction

AFFERENTS FROM BARORECPTORS

Location - Aortic arch and carotid sinus

Stimulated by high blood pressure

ACTION- Inhibition of respiration

CHEMORECEPTORS

Location – Carotid and aortic bodies

Stimulated by chemical changes in blood

ACTION – Increase the rate and depth of respiration.

CHEMICAL REGULATION OF RESPIRATION

CHEMORECEPTORS

c PERIPHERAL CHEMORECEPTORS
c CENTRAL CHEMORECEPRTOS
c PULMONARY AND CARDIAL CHEMORECEPTOS
1. PERIPHERAL CHEMORECEPTOR
CAROTID AND AORTIC BODIES

Located near common carotid artery bifurcation and arch of aorta

respectively

STIMULATING FACTORS

1. Hypoxia
2. Decreased blood flow
3. Asphyxia
4. Cyanide poisoning

ACTION
On stimulation, increase rate as well as depth of respiration.

3. CENTRAL CHEMORECEPTORS (MEDULLARY)

LOCATION- Ventral part of medulla

NOTE - Separate from respiratory centre
ACTION – stimulates respiration by impulses acting on apneustic centre

STIMULATING FACTORS

H+ concentration of CSF
Directly proportional increase with H+ increase.
NOTE - NOT Stimulated by hypoxia

H+ increase with increase in CO2 concentration

Mechanism
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H + HCO3

CO2 passes blood brain barrier where as H passes slowly

Effect of CO2 on respiration is mainly due its movement into CSF where it
increase concentration of H+and stimulates central chemoreceptors.
1. PULMONARY AND CARDIAL CHEMORECEPTORS

FACTORS AFFECTING RESPIRATION

HYPOXIA

Decrease in pO2 stimulates respiratory centre leading to increased

respiration
MECHANISM
Stimulates peripheral chemoreceptors causing increased respiration

Above pO2 60 mm Hg, slight fall change in respiration

Below 60mmHg, marked increased respiration
 EFFECT OF CO2

Rise in pCO2 stimulates mainly CENTRAL chemoreceptors leading

to increased respiration
Also stimulates peripheral chemoreceptors.

EFFECT OF H+

Stimulates peripheral chemoreceptors

H cannot enter CSF therefore unable to stimulate central
chemoreceptors.

EFFECT OF INTERACTION OF VARIOUS CHEMICAL FACTORS