Airway nerves: in vivo electrophysiology

Information about the activity of airway sensory afferent nerves in vivo can be obtained electrophysiologically by extracellular recording of action potentials. Apart from data capture, the basic techniques used for recording sensory nerve activity have not advanced greatly in 50 years. However, clearly they continue to contribute vastly to our understanding of the role of these nerves in the control and functions of the airways in disease. This is particularly noticeable with the insight gained into exactly which physiological, biochemical and pharmacological events in the control of lung function rely upon the airway sensory afferent nerves and the subsequent airway vagal reflex arcs.