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2020 PHOL0001 Lecture Notes Control of Respiration

The document summarizes control of respiration. It discusses that respiration is controlled by centers in the brainstem that generate a rhythmic breathing pattern. Chemoreceptors monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and stimulate breathing in response to changes, with increased carbon dioxide being a stronger stimulus than decreased oxygen. The lungs provide oxygen to the blood, remove carbon dioxide, regulate pH, and have other metabolic functions like defending against microbes and trapping blood clots.

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43 views

2020 PHOL0001 Lecture Notes Control of Respiration

The document summarizes control of respiration. It discusses that respiration is controlled by centers in the brainstem that generate a rhythmic breathing pattern. Chemoreceptors monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and stimulate breathing in response to changes, with increased carbon dioxide being a stronger stimulus than decreased oxygen. The lungs provide oxygen to the blood, remove carbon dioxide, regulate pH, and have other metabolic functions like defending against microbes and trapping blood clots.

Uploaded by

christian shen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UCL Division of Biosciences PHOL0001

Control of Respiration

Dr Pam Houston
Recommended Reading: Pocock & Richards, Human Physiology,2nd, 3rd edn Chapter 16, and Pocock, Richards &
Richards, Human Physiology 4th and 5th edn Chapter 25.

Learning Objectives
1. Define the origins of the respiratory control centres
2. Define how the rhythm is generated and controlled
3. Understand the reflexes that control respiration
4. Summarise what lungs do.

Peripheral and Central Control of Respiration


Normal respiration is controlled by respiratory centres in the medulla or brainstem. These respiratory centres are
also known as rhythm generators since they produce normal rhythmical breathing. There are two main groups of
neurons in the medulla which are responsible for normal respiration; dorsal respiratory group (DRG) [mainly
inspiratory] and ventral respiratory group (VRG) [inspiratory and expiratory. Neurons in the pontine respiratory
group (PRG) modulate the activity of the medullary respiratory centres. These centres in the medulla and pons
generate a regular respiratory rhythm.

Chemoreceptors
Chemoreceptors monitor changes in O2 and CO2 in arterial blood in the carotid and aortic bodies of mammals, in
the carotid body of birds, and in the carotid labyrinth of amphibians. In all cases the chemoreceptors are
innervated by branches of the IXth (glossopharyngeal) and Xth (vagus) cranial nerves. Central or medullary
chemoreceptors are located on the ventral surface of the medulla and respond to increases in H+ concentration
by stimulating the nearby respiratory centre to increase breathing.

Significant stimulation of respiration by a decrease in partial pressure of O2 only occurs at very low levels of O2
(arterial PO2 < 60 mmHg) but since a decrease is usually associated with an increase in CO2 then respiration is
increased substantially even with only a small increase in PCO2 . It is clear therefore that an increase in PCO2 is a
much greater stimulus to respiration than a decrease in PO2. The chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies respond
very quickly to an increase in CO 2 by increasing the frequency of their action potentials to the respiratory centre
neurons to increase rate of breathing. This response is rapid but the slower and probably larger response to an
increase in CO2 is brought about by the central chemoreceptors. It is an increase in H+ that is detected by the
central chemoreceptors but this is not a direct effect because H+ cannot cross the blood/brain barrier. This effect is
mediated by CO2 which does cross the blood/brain barrier, combines with H 2O to form H2CO3 and this then
dissociates into HCO3- and H+. The H+ then stimulates the central chemoreceptors to increase respiration. Higher brain
centres allow the rate and depth of breathing to be controlled voluntarily e.g. speech. Pulmonary reflexes originate from
receptors in the tracheobronchial tree and lungs, the pulmonary stretch receptors (Hering - Breuer reflex), irritant and
Juxtacapillary receptors and reflexes from muscles and joints.

Functions of the Lungs


1. Provides oxygen.
2. Eliminates carbon dioxide.
3. Regulates the bloods hydrogen ion concentration (pH).
4. Helps to form speech sounds (human).
5. Defends against microbes (mammals), removes them by swallowing.
6. Traps and dissolves blood clots (mammals), phagocytosis.
7. Metabolic functions:-
i) synthesis of dipalmitoyl lecithin (major constituent of surfactant, which we be discussed later)
ii) release of prostacyclin in response to lung injury, facilitates repair of lung tissue, conversion of
angiotensin I to angiotensin II (a potent vasoconstrictor important in the control of arterial blood pressure
and sodium balance)
iii) inactivation and removal of toxic substances from the circulation (mammals).

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