RESPIRATORY CENTERS

OF THE BRAIN

Respiratory Centers
Consists of:
Voluntary Components
Involuntary Components

Involuntary Respiratory
Components
Regulate activities of the respiratory
muscles
Control respiratory minute volume by
adjusting the frequency and depth of
pulmonary ventilation

Voluntary Respiratory Components

Activity in the cerebral cortex that
affects either the output of the
respiratory centers in the medulla
oblongata and pons or of motor
neurons in the spinal cord that
control respiratory muscles

INVOLUNTARY
RESPIRATION

Respiratory Centers
3 pairs of nuclei in the Medulla
Oblongata and Pons

Respiratory Centers in the Medulla

Oblongata
Set the pace of respiration
Respiratory Rhythmicity Centers
Dorsal Respiratory Group (DRG)
Ventral Respiratory Group (VRG)

Respiratory Centers in the Medulla

Oblongata
DRG consists of inspiratory center
neurons
Control external intercostal muscles and
diaphragm
Functions in every respiratory cycle
(quiet and forced)

Respiratory Centers in the Medulla

Oblongata
VRG consists of inspiratory and
expiratory center neurons
Active only during forced breathing
Controls accessory muscles involved
in active (forced) exhalation and
maximal (forced) inhalation

Respiratory Centers in the Medulla

Oblongata
Reciprocal Inhibition
When the inspiratroy neurons are active
the expiratory neurons are inhibited

Control of Quiet Breathing

DRG activity increases over 2 sec
Inspiratory muscles stimulated
Inhalation occurs
After 2 sec DRG becomes inactive for
3 sec
Inspiratory muscles relax
Passive exhalation

Control of Forced Breathing

DRG activity increases
Stimulation of the VRG inspiratory
centers
External intercostal muscles,
diaphragm and accessory muscles
involved in inspiration activated
Inhalation occurs

Control of Forced Breathing

Expiratory centers of VRG activated
Accessory muscles involved in
expiration activated - Active
Exhalation

Drugs and the Respiratory Centers

Drugs increase respiratory rate by
facilitating the respiratory centers
Amphetamines: Adderall, Dexedrine
Caffeine

Drugs and the Respiratory Centers

Drugs reduce respiratory rate by
inhibiting the respiratory centers
Barbiturates: sedatives, anaesthetic
drugs, anticonvulsants
Opiates: morphine

Respiratory Centers in the Pons

Apneustic and Pneumotaxic Centers
Adjusts output of the DRG and VRG
Regulate respiratory rate
Regulate depth of respiration in
response to sensory stimuli or input
from other centers of the brain

Respiratory Centers in the Pons

APNEUSTIC CENTER
Provides continuous stimulation to the DRG
Increasing the intensity of inhalation over
the next 2 seconds
Inhibited by pneumotaxic center after 2
sec during quiet breathing
During forced breathing it also responds to
sensory info. from vagus nerves regarding
the amount of lung inflation

Respiratory Centers in the Pons

PNEUMOTAXIC CENTERS
Inhibit the apneustic centers and
promote passive or active exhalation

Respiratory Centers Summary

DRG and VRG set basic pace and depth of
respiration
Pneumotaxic centers modify that pace
Increasing pnuemotaxic output quickens
respiratory pace by shortening the length of
each inhalation (Apneustic Centers less active)
Decreasing pneumotaxic output slows
respiratory pace but increases depth of
respiration (i.e. Apneustic centers more active)

Respiratory Reflexes
Activities of the respiratory centers are
modified by sensory information from:
Chemoreceptors sensitive to PCO2, pH or PO2 of
blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Baroreceptors in the aortic and carotid sinuses
are sensitive to changes in blood pressure
Stretch receptors that respond to changes in lung
volume

Respiratory Reflexes
Activities of the respiratory centers
are modified by sensory information
from:
Irritating physical stimuli in the nasal
cavity, larynx or bronchial tree
Pain, changes in body temperature, and
abnormal visceral sensations

Chemoreceptor Reflexes
Chemoreceptors
adjacent to the
carotid sinus and
near the aortic arch
are sensitive to
lowered pH and low
PO2
Stimulation leads to
an increase in depth
and rate of
respiration

Chemoreceptor Reflexes
CO2 levels are responsible for
regulating respiratory activity under
normal conditions because
a small increase in CO2 (10%) will cause
respiratory rate to double while
O2 levels would have to decrease by
40% to increase respiratory rate by 50
70 %

Chemoreceptor Reflexes
The normal relationship between O2 levels
and CO2 levels diminishes during
hyperventilation
Hyperventilation decreases PCO2

pH increases (alkaline)
Chemoreceptors sensitive to low pH not stimulated
Respiratory centers not stimulated
You do not feel the urge to breathe
O2 levels decrease > Unconsciousness
If under water Shallow Water Blackout

Baroreceptor Reflexes
Located in the carotid and aortic
sinuses
When stimulated they affect the
respiratory centers via sensory fibres
in the glossopharyngeal and vagus
nerves
When blood pressure decreases
respiratory rate increases and visa
versa

Stretch Reflexes
The Hering-Breuer Reflexes
Operate during forced breathing
Inflation Reflex and Deflation Reflex

Stretch Reflexes
The Hering-Breuer Reflexes
Inflation Reflex
Prevents overexpansion of the lungs during
forced breathing
Lungs expand
Stretch receptors in smooth muscle of
bronchioles stimulated
DRG inhibited and expiratory centers of VRG
stimulated
Inhalation stops as lungs near maximum volume
Active exhalation begins

Stretch Reflexes
The Hering-Breuer Reflexes
Deflation Reflex
During active exhalation
Receptors in alveolar walls are
stimulated
Expiratory centers inhibited
Inspiratory centers stimulated
Exhalation stops and inhalation begins

Protective Reflexes
Operate when exposed to toxic
vapors, chemical irritants or
mechanical stimulation of the
respiratory tract

Protective Reflexes
Stimulation of the receptors in the
epithelium of the respiratroy tract
causes
Sneezing, coughing and laryngeal spasms
Sneezing irritation of the nasal cavity
Coughing - irritation of the larynx, trachea or
bronchi
Both involve a period of apnea
Glottis closes while lungs still full
Abdominal and intercostals contract
Volume of lungs decrease; pressure increases
Air forced out

Protective Reflexes
Laryngeal Spasms
Entry of chemical irritants, foreign
objects or fluids into the area around
the glottis
Glottis closes temporarily
Strong toxic gases can close the glottis
so dramatically that you lose
consciousness and die

VOLUNTARY CONTROL

Voluntary Control of Respiration

Examples of the effect that activity in
the cerebral cortex have on the
respiratory centers
Conscious thought processes tied to
strong emotions affect respiratory rate
by stimulating centers in the
hypothalamus

Voluntary Control of Respiration

Examples of the effect that activity in
the cerebral cortex have on the
respiratory centers
Emotional states can activate the
sympathetic nervous system causing
bronchodilation and increasing
respiratory rate; parasympathetic
stimulation causes bronchoconstriction
and a reduction in the respiratory rate

Voluntary Control of Respiration

Examples of the effect that activity in
the cerebral cortex have on the
respiratory centers
Anticipation of exercise triggers an
increase in respiratory rate and cardiac
output by sympathetic stimulation

Voluntary Control of Respiration

Conscious control over respiration
may bypass the respiratory centers
completely
Speaking, singing, swimming, holding
your breath
Overriding the respiratory centers has limits
Chemoreceptor reflexes cannot be
suppressed consciously once PCO2 reach
critical limits you will be forced to breathe