13.9 Control of Respiration

Aortic Bodies

Chemoreceptors located near aortic arch; sensitive to arterial blood O2 content and H+ concentration

Apneustic Center

Area in the lower pons in the brain with input to the medullary inspiratory neurons; helps to terminate inspiration

Carotid Bodies

Chemoreceptors near main branching of carotid artery; sensitive to blood O2 and CO2 content and H+ concentration

Central Chemoreceptors

Receptors in brainstem medulla oblongata that respond to changes in H+ concentration of brain extracellular fluid

Dorsal Respiratory Group (DRG)

Neurons in the medullary respiratory center that fire during inspiration

Hering-Breuer Reflex

Inflation of the lung stimulates afferent nerves, which inhibit the inspiratory nerves in the medulla and thereby help to terminate inspiration

J Receptors

Receptors in the lung capillary walls or interstitium that respond to increased lung interstitial pressure

Medullary Respiratory Center

Part of the medulla oblongata involved in the neural control of rhythmic breathing

Peripheral Chemoreceptors

Carotid or aortic bodies; respond to changes in arterial blood P(O2) and H+ concentration

Pneumotaxic Center

Area of the upper pons in the brain that modulates activity of the apneustic center

Pontine Respiratory Group

Neurons in the pons that modulate respiratory rhythms

Pre-Bötzinger Complex

Neurons of the ventral respiratory group in the medulla that are the respiratory rhythm generator

Pulmonary Stretch Receptors

Afferent neuron endings located in airway smooth muscle and activated by lung inflation

Respiratory Rhythm Generator

Neural network in the brainstem that generates output to the phrenic nerve

Ventral Respiratory Group (VRG)

Region of the brainstem containing expiratory neurons important during exercise