The respiratory control mechanisms in the brainstem and spinal cord: integrative views of the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology

• Published in: The journal of physiological sciences Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 45 - 62
• Main Authors: Ikeda, Keiko, Kawakami, Kiyoshi, Onimaru, Hiroshi, Okada, Yasumasa, Yokota, Shigefumi, Koshiya, Naohiro, Oku, Yoshitaka, Iizuka, Makito, Koizumi, Hidehiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer 01.01.2017; BioMed Central; Springer Japan
• Subjects: Anatomy; Animals; Brain stem; Brain Stem - physiology; Humans; Medulla Oblongata - physiology; Motor task performance; Neurons - physiology; Neurophysiology; Physiological aspects; Respiration; Respiratory Center - physiology; Review; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord - physiology; Parafacial respiratory group (pFRG); Medulla; Pons; Spinal cord; Pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC); Respiratory rhythm
• ISSN: 1880-6546; 1880-6562
• DOI: 10.1007/s12576-016-0475-y

Respiratory activities are produced by medullary respiratory rhythm generators and are modulated from various sites in the lower brainstem, and which are then output as motor activities through premotor efferent networks in the brainstem and spinal cord. Over the past few decades, new knowledge has been accumulated on the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying the generation and regulation of respiratory rhythm. In this review, we focus on the recent findings and attempt to elucidate the anatomical and functional mechanisms underlying respiratory control in the lower brainstem and spinal cord.