Pulmonary Respiration

Question 1

What is the overall function of the sensory input system?

Answer 1

Monitors the rate and depth of respiration.

Question 2

What are the different receptors that make up the sensory input system?

Answer 2

• Mechanoreceptors.
• Metaboreceptors.
• Peripheral chemoreceptors.
• Central chemoreceptors.

Question 3

What are mechanoreceptors?

Answer 3

• Provide sensory information to the respiratory centre of the brain.
• Regarding the mechanical status of the lungs + chest.

Question 4

What are metaboreceptors?

Answer 4

Stimulate breathing during exercise.

Question 5

What are peripheral chemoreceptors?

Answer 5

• Monitor the partial pressure of arterial oxygen in the blood.
• Respond to hypercapnia + acidosis.

Question 6

What are central chemoreceptors?

Answer 6

Sense pH changes in O2 or CO2 concentrations in the brain.

Question 7

What is the overall function of the Central neural drive (respiratory drive)?

Answer 7

Controls inhalation + exhalation.

Question 8

What 2 structures within the brain play an important role in the central neural drive?

Answer 8

• Medulla oblongata.
• Pons.

Question 9

How do we sense changes in the concentrations of oxygen + carbon dioxide?

Answer 9

• Excess CO2 or hydrogen ions impact the respiratory centre.
• A chemosensitive area in the medulla of the brainstem is stimulated by the accumulation of CO2 or hydrogen ions.
• This drives an increase in the rate of ventilation.

Question 10

Where are peripheral chemoreceptors located and what concentrations are they sensitive to?

Answer 10

• Located at the carotid + aortic bodies.
• Sensitive to changes in arterial pressure of oxygen + CO2.
• A falling arterial pressure will lead to rapid neural impulses to increase respiration.
• A change in these pressures outside the homeostatic range will drive a rapid response.