Regulation of Respiration

The major goal of this article is to provide an interpretative review of the respiratory control system. First, we discuss two of the three basic elements of this system: the sensors and the controller (Fig. 1). Then, we consider the system as a whole and discuss the integrated acute and chronic respiratory responses to various stimuli, including hypercapnia, hypoxemia, acid–base disturbances, acclimatization to altitude and response to exercise. We have concentrated upon presenting material published within the last six years.SensorsPeripheral ChemoreceptorsThe peripheral arterial chemoreceptors are responsible for the immediate increase in breathing produced by oxygen lack. These . . .