Regulation Of Respiration: Definition, Function And Diagram

What Is Respiration Regulation?

Respiration is an essential physiological activity that maintains the optimum level of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body. Respiration is controlled automatically through neural & chemical pathways. The regulation of respiration is essential for homeostasis.

Neural Control Of Respiration

Respiration is controlled by respiratory centres located in the brain stem.

Medullary Respiratory Centre

The medullary respiratory centre includes the dorsal and ventral respiratory groups. Thus, the DRG establishes the fundamental rhythm of breathing, while the VRG does voluntary breathing.

The medullary respiratory centre coordinates patterns of breathing in response to information received through sensory input.

Pontine Respiratory Group (PRG)

The pontine respiratory group sharpens the breath rhythm into transitions between inspiration and expiration and vice versa.

Chemical Regulation Of Respiration

The chemoreceptors monitor oscillations of CO2, O2, and pH levels in the blood. Sensory input regarding these variables is subsequently sent to the CPG with commands to either raise or lower the breathing cycle to re-balance the concentration of chemicals back to homeostatic levels within the body.

Central Chemoreceptor

The central chemoreceptors are in the medulla sensitive to changes in CO2.

Peripheral Chemoreceptor

In contrast, peripheral chemoreceptors that lie in the carotid bodies and aortic bodies are sensitive to O2 and pH

Effects of CO₂, O₂, and pH

High concentration of CO2 increases the rate of breathing. When the rate of breathing becomes too low with the low concentration of oxygen, then peripheral chemoreceptors start shifting breathing

Respiratory Regulation Mechanisms

The body uses multiple feedback systems to govern breathing efficiently.

Feedback Systems In Respiratory Control

These involve sensors that sense changes, control centres that change the rate and depth of respiration, and the effectors that carry out the ultimate response—respiratory homeostasis.

Reflex Regulation of Breathing

The body uses multiple feedback systems to govern breathing efficiently.

Hering-Breuer Reflex

This reflex prevents overinflation of the lungs by inhibiting the inspiratory neurons through the activation of stretch receptors in the lungs.

Proprioceptor Response During Exercise

Proprioceptors in muscles and joints stimulate the respiratory centres to increase the rate of breathing during exercise.

Factors Affecting Respiration

There are some factors which influence the rate of respiration and the depth of respiration.

Physical Factors

The respiration rate will increase to provide a greater amount of oxygen to the muscle due to exertion.

Emotional Factors

Stress and anxiety may affect breathing patterns, in which, usually the rate of respiration will be increased.

Chemical Factors

The blood levels of CO2, O2 and pH directly vary and impact respiration

Diseases Of Respiratory Control

Familiarity with the most common diseases will help you recognize and manage disorders of respiratory control.

Common Diseases

Sleep apnea and respiratory depression represent two diseases that involve alterations of normal respiratory control

Causes

This can be caused by damage to nerves, imbalance in chemicals, or sometimes even by not providing the correct amount of oxygen to tissues.

Recent Development In Respiratory Control

The continuous research in respiratory control has come up with many breakthroughs. These include the following:

New Molecular Insights

Not long ago, the discovery of many new molecular pathways and mechanisms of participation in breathing control was made.

Technological Advancement

New inventions in medical technology have widened the scope of managing and monitoring existing respiratory disorders.

Regulation of Respiration NEET MCQs (With Answers & Explanations)

Important topics for NEET are:

• Neural and chemical control of respiration

• Factors affecting respiration

Practice Questions for NEET

Q1. Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of peripheral chemoreceptors in respiration regulation?

1. Peripheral chemoreceptors are primarily sensitive to changes in oxygen levels.

2. Peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the medulla oblongata.

3. Peripheral chemoreceptors are not involved in the regulation of respiration.

4. Peripheral chemoreceptors respond to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.

Correct answer: 4) Peripheral chemoreceptors respond to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.

Explanation:

Peripheral chemoreceptors are specialized sensory receptors located in the carotid bodies and aortic bodies. These chemoreceptors are primarily sensitive to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood. When there is an increase in CO2 or a decrease in O2, the peripheral chemoreceptors are activated and send signals to the respiratory centres in the brain, primarily the medulla oblongata, to increase the rate and depth of breathing. This helps to restore proper blood gas levels by increasing the removal of CO2 and increasing the intake of O2.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) Peripheral chemoreceptors respond to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.

Q2. Which of the following statements accurately describes the effect of pH on the regulation of respiration?

1. An increase in pH leads to an increased respiration rate.

2. A decrease in pH leads to decreased respiration rate.

3. pH does not have any effect on the regulation of respiration.

4. Changes in pH primarily affect the depth of respiration.

Correct answer: 4) Changes in pH primarily affect the depth of respiration.

Explanation:

pH is important for regulating respiration. Blood pH reflects its acidity or alkalinity. Increased CO2 in the blood forms Carbonic acid through a reaction with water releasing hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) with the help of carbonic anhydrase enzyme. The concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) affects blood pH. More hydrogen ions (H+) lower pH, causing acidosis, while fewer hydrogen ions (H+) raise pH, causing alkalosis. pH changes impact respiration depth. In acidosis, respiration increases to remove excess CO2 reducing hydrogen ion concentration and restoring pH balance. In alkalosis, respiration decreases to retain CO2, increasing hydrogen ions and restoring pH balance.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) Changes in pH primarily affect the depth of respiration.

Q3. The carbon dioxide that enters the RBCs forms a reversible compound with an amino group NH2 of the globin part of hemoglobin. This compound is called

1. Carbaminohemoglobin

2. Oxyhaemoglobin

3. Carboxyhaemoglobin

4. Carbaminohemoglobin

Correct answer: 1) Carbaminohemoglobin

Explannation:

The carbon dioxide that enters the RBCs forms a reversible compound with an amino group NH2 of the globin part of hemoglobin. The compound so formed is called carbaminohemoglobin.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Carbaminohemoglobin.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Regulation of Respiration

• Thoracic Cavity

• Lung Capacity and Lung Volumes

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