[The respiratory center--the regulator of the respiratory system]

Abstract

The authors consider the respiratory centre to be the regulator of the respiratory system and to consist of 3 main functional blocks: chemoregulator, respiratory rhythm autogenerator and mechanoregulator, functions of which are provided by the neurons of medulla oblongata. The main aim of chemoregulator block is to maintain the level of ventilation volume speed, which is necessary to compensate the difference between the signals of setting and the firing from the chemoreceptors. The main aim of mechanoregulator block is to provide the functioning of the regulation loop of the respiratory muscles comparing the signals which come from the respiratory autogenerator, and the firing of the mechanoreceptors. The generator unit of the respiratory centre is a set of rhythm-forming associations, the system of 4 neurons (early and late inspiratory and expiratory) are typical among them. The neurons are connected by recurrent inhibitory bonds: the neuron of each rhythm-forming group, successively becoming excited, inhibits the two preceding neurons in the cycle; for all this the neuron of the successive group is released from inhibition and in such a way the rhythmogenesis occurs. The respiratory centre forms a common unit for chemo- and mechanoreceptor loops, through which the circuits of feedback for both loops are connected, providing the regulation of breathing.