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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration01:22

Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration

The neurogenic control of respiration coordinates various neural networks and pathways to regulate breathing rate and depth, meeting the body's oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange requirements. This system adapts to physiological and environmental conditions, ensuring optimal breathing patterns.
Central Control
The brainstem is the primary site of central control, hosting respiratory centers:
Neural Control of Respiration01:18

Neural Control of Respiration

The neural regulation of respiration is a meticulously coordinated process primarily controlled by the respiratory centers located within the brainstem. These centers, composed of specialized neurons, transmit nerve impulses that control the contraction and relaxation of our respiratory muscles.
Respiratory Centers in the Brainstem
Two primary areas comprise the respiratory center: the medullary respiratory center in the medulla oblongata and the pontine respiratory group in the pons. The...
Physiological Control of Respiration01:23

Physiological Control of Respiration

Introduction
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:31

Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Chemical factors such as changing CO2, O2, and H+ levels in arterial blood play a critical role in influencing respiration depth and rates. These variations are detected by chemoreceptors—specialized sensors located in two primary body areas. Central chemoreceptors are found throughout the brain stem, including the ventrolateral medulla, while peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries.
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:17

Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Breathing is primarily an involuntary activity regulated by the brainstem respiratory centers. However, it can also be consciously controlled, allowing us to hold our breath or take deeper breaths when needed. This voluntary control is facilitated by the cerebral motor cortex, which bypasses the medullary centers to stimulate the respiratory muscles directly.
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical level,...
Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance01:18

Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance

Respiratory compensation is a vital physiological process that stabilizes blood plasma pH by regulating the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), a key determinant of pH levels. Most carbon dioxide in the blood dissolves and converts into carbonic acid (H2CO3). It dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3⁻). There is also an inverse relationship between PCO2​​ and pH.
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are produced, leading to a...

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Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation (BreEStim) for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
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Periaqueductal gray matter modulates the hypercapnic ventilatory response.

Luana T Lopes1, Luis G A Patrone, Kênia C Bícego

  • 1Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, São Paulo State University-(UNESP FCAV), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.

Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|June 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The periaqueductal gray (PAG) modulates the CO2 drive to breathe. Lesioning specific PAG areas reduced respiratory responses to hypercapnia in rats, but did not affect cardiovascular or thermal regulation.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

  • The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a midbrain region involved in defensive behaviors and cardiorespiratory control.
  • While PAG stimulation affects respiration, its role in the carbon dioxide (CO2) drive to breathe remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific PAG subregions (dlPAG, dmPAG, vPAG) in modulating the respiratory response to hypercapnia.
  • To assess the impact of chemical lesions in these PAG areas on cardiorespiratory and thermal regulation during CO2 exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Chemical lesions were induced in the dorsolateral/dorsomedial PAG (dlPAG/dmPAG) or ventrolateral/lateral PAG (vPAG) of male Wistar rats using ibotenic acid (IBO).
  • Control groups included sham-lesioned rats (vehicle injection) and rats with lesions outside the targeted PAG areas (negative controls).
  • Pulmonary ventilation (VE), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and body temperature (Tb) were measured in unanesthetized rats during normocapnia and hypercapnic exposure (7% CO2).

Main Results:

  • IBO lesioning of the dlPAG/dmPAG significantly reduced the respiratory response to CO2 by 31% and 26.5%, respectively, compared to sham and negative control groups.
  • Lesioning of the vPAG resulted in a 26.6% and 21% reduction in CO2 hyperpnea compared to control groups.
  • Basal levels of VE, MAP, HR, and Tb were not significantly affected by the PAG lesions under normocapnic or hypercapnic conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The dorsolateral, dorsomedial, and ventrolateral PAG subregions play a modulatory role in the hypercapnic ventilatory response in rats.
  • These PAG areas do not appear to be critical for regulating mean arterial pressure, heart rate, or body temperature at rest or during hypercapnia.