Control of Respiration

Question 1

How does medulla control respiration?

Answer 1

The main respiratory center spontaneously generates the respiratory rate (pre-Botzinger complex)

Question 2

What is the carotid body?

Answer 2

Peripheral chemoreceptor. Stimulated by low pH, low PO2, and high PCO2.
Dominant chemoreceptor.
Fast response.

Question 3

What is the aortic body?

Answer 3

Peripheral chemoreceptor. Stimulated by low PO2 and high PCO2.

Question 4

Describe the central chemoreceptor

Answer 4

Medulla surface, Send pH (H+) only by CO2 dissolution across BBB. CSF has buffering capacity with slow response for pH recovery.

Question 5

Describe the response to altitude

Answer 5

Altitude lowers inspired O2 -> Hypoxemia stimulates peripheral chemoreceptors for hyperventilation -> High ventilation lowers PCO2 -> low PCO2 increases blood and CSF pH -> CSF pH equilibrates -> removes hypoxic stimulation -> Blood pH equilibrates by bicarbonate excretion.