Respiratory center

The respiratory center (RC) is located in the medulla oblongata and pons, which are part of the brain stem. The RC receives controlling signals of neural, chemical and hormonal nature and controls the rate and depth of respiratory movements of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles. Injury to this center may lead to center respiratory failure, which necessitates mechanical ventilation; usually the prognosis is grave.

In healthy individuals the presence of elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood is the stimulant that the RC responds to in order to signal the respiratory muscles to breathe. Chemoreceptors found in carotid bodies and aortic bodies are responsible for detecting decrease in blood pH by this carbon dioxide.

Groups

Respiratory center is divided into four major cliques

Inspiratory center (Dorsal respiratory group)

Expiratory center (Ventral respiratory group)

Pneumotaxic center

Apneustic center

  1. It discharges stimulatory impulse to the inspiratory center causing inspiration.
  2. It receives inhibitory impulse from pneumotaxic center and from stretch receptor of lung.
  3. It discharges inhibitory impulse to expiratory center.

Respiratory center depression

Depression of a respiratory center can be a result of the following reasons:

Respiratory center stimulation

Amphetamine stimulates the medullary respiratory centers, producing faster and deeper breaths.[1] In a normal person at therapeutic doses, this effect is usually not noticeable, but when respiration is already compromised, it may be evident.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Westfall DP, Westfall TC (2010). "Miscellaneous Sympathomimetic Agonists". In Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC. Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (12th ed.). New York, USA: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780071624428.
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