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Laryngeal Chemoreflex in Health and Disease: A Review
Shivani Pathak1, Laurie Slovarp2, Matthew S Clary1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Abstract:
The larynx plays a key role in airway protection via the laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR). This involuntary reflex can be evoked when hazardous substances activate mucosal receptors, which send signals to be processed within the brainstem. Although the LCR is meant to be protective, the reflex can become hyperstimulated, even to benign stimuli, which can result in pathological disorders, such as chronic cough and inducible laryngeal obstruction. In this review, we will outline the mechanism of the LCR and its associated pathological disorders.
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