Respiratory center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Respiratory center (RC) is located in the medulla oblongata which is the lowermost part of the brain stem. RC receives controlling signals of neural, chemical and hormonal natures and controls the rate and depth of respiratory movements of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles. Injury to this center may lead to central respiratory failure which necessitates mechanical ventilation but usually the prognosis is grave. In healthy individuals the presence of elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood is the stimulant that RC responds to in order to signal the respiratory muscles to breathe. Chemoreceptors found in carotid and aortic bodies are responcible for detecting this CO2. Individuals who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease usually have a chronically elevated level of carbon dioxide present in their blood due to their diminished lung function. As a result their specific chemoreceptors become desensitised to the hypercapnia and instead respond to a decreased amount of oxygen present.
 |
This neuroanatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
