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Central Chemoreceptors
Health Science (scn1111)
Edith Cowan University
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Central Chemoreceptors
Central chemoreceptors are located in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem. They detect changes in the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2 ). When changes are detected, the receptors send impulses to the respiratory centres in the brainstem that initiate changes in ventilation to restore normal pCO2.
● Detection of an increase in pCO 2 leads to an increase in ventilation. More CO 2 is exhaled, the pCO2 decreases and returns to normal. ● Detection of a decrease in pCO2 leads to a decrease in ventilation. Less CO 2 is retained in the lungs, the pCO2 increases and returns to normal.
The mechanism behind how central chemoreceptors detect changes in arterial pCO 2 is more complex, and is related to changes in the pH of the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF).
Central Chemoreceptors
Course: Health Science (scn1111)
University: Edith Cowan University
