Neurophysiology of Respiratory System

The control of rate, rhythm and depth of different phases of respiration is required not only for exchange of gases but also during non-respiratory motor behaviours and emotional states. A network of rhythm-generating and pattern-generating neural groups in the ponto-medullary region of brain controls the activity of inspiratory, expiratory and accessory muscles of respiration. This network is intricately connected to the higher subcortical and cortical regions of the brain for state and behaviour-specific modulation respiration. The network also receives afferent information from periphery to modulate the ongoing respiratory activity to match the respiration with the metabolic needs. This chapter details the most recent information regarding neural substrate and models that underlie the control of respiration.