MODULE 10: HUMORAL

AND MECHANICAL
FACTORS AFFECTING
RESPIRATION

ALLEN PAUL P. GUILLERMO, DVM

Faculty, College of Veterinary Medicine
Tarlac Agricultural University
 PNEUMOTAXIC AND APNEUSTIC AREA

• The pneumotaxic area, also called the pontine respiratory

group, sends inhibitory signals to the inspiratory area. These
signals primarily function to prevent overfilling of the lungs.

• Conversely, the apneustic area located in the

lower pons sends stimulatory signals to the inspiratory area
that prolongs inspiration.
 HERING-BREUER REFLEX
The receptors for these reflexes are located in the lungs,
particularly in the bronchi and bronchioles.

The effect of inflation-receptor stimulation is to inhibit further

inspiration and to stimulate expiratory neurons in the ventral
respiratory group.
 HUMORAL CONTROL
Humoral control refers to those factors in the body fluids that influence ventilation
like CO2, O2 and H+.

 Their concentrations in the blood affect alveolar ventilation in several ways:

 Carbon dioxide increase causes alveolar ventilation to

increase; its
decrease causes alveolar ventilation to decrease.

H+
increase causes alveolar ventilation to increase; its decrease causes
alveolar ventilation to decrease.

 Oxygen decrease causes alveolar ventilation to increase; its

increase
causes alveolar ventilation to decrease.

Peripheral chemoreceptors include the aortic bodies and carotid bodies whose
removal eliminates a respiratory response to hypoxia.
 OXYGEN TRANSPORT
Oxygen is transported in blood in two forms:
 as physically dissolved O2
 O2 in combination with hemoglobin
 CARBON DIOXIDE TRANSPORT
 The CO2 produced during metabolism is a waste product
and has been eliminated. The flow of CO2 is affected under
a continuous pressure gradient.
 The transport of CO2 is affected in the following ways.
 As physically dissolved CO2
 Transport in chemical combination