Respiratory Center (Noun)
Meaning
The center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The brain's respiratory center plays a crucial role in regulating breathing by processing information from various sensors and sending signals to the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles.
- The medulla oblongata's respiratory center responds to changes in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood by adjusting the rate and depth of breathing.
- Damage to the respiratory center in the pons can disrupt the normal rhythm of breathing and lead to respiratory failure.
- The respiratory center integrates information from various sources, including the lungs, airways, and chemoreceptors, to control the body's breathing patterns.
- Stimulation of the respiratory center can occur through various mechanisms, including changes in the pH level of the blood, which triggers a response to increase or decrease breathing rates.