Nervous Control of Breathing
301
- Nervous Control of Breathing
- Chemoreceptors detect pH (H+ concentration) in blood
- pH is dependent on pCO2 in blood (indirect measure)
- By way of bicarbonate buffer and carbonic anhydrase system
- Central chemoreceptors in medulla
- Peripheral chemoreceptors in carotid arteries and aorta
- pH is dependent on pCO2 in blood (indirect measure)
- Chemoreceptors regulate the breathing/respiratory rate
- At high pCO2 levels = more acid
- chemoreceptors send signals to increase breathing rate
- Allows more CO2 to be expired
- At low pCO2 levels = less acid
- chemoreceptors send signals to decrease breathing rate
- At high pCO2 levels = more acid
- Chemoreceptors detect pH (H+ concentration) in blood