Editing Control of ventilation (section)

{{Short description|Breathing control}}
The '''control of ventilation''' is the [[physiology|physiological]] mechanisms involved in the control of [[breathing]], which is the movement of air into and out of the lungs. Ventilation facilitates respiration. Respiration refers to the utilization of [[oxygen]] and balancing of [[carbon dioxide]] by the body as a whole, or by individual cells in [[cellular respiration]].<ref name=Ganong>{{cite book|last1=Barrett|first1=Kim E.|last2=Barman|first2=Susan M.|last3=Boitano|first3=Scott|last4=Brooks|first4=Heddwen L.|title=Ganong's review of medical physiology|date=2012|publisher=McGraw-Hill Medical|location=New York|isbn=978-0071780032|edition=24th}}</ref>

The most important function of breathing is the supplying of oxygen to the body and balancing of the carbon dioxide levels. Under most conditions, the [[PCO2|partial pressure of carbon dioxide]] (PCO<sub>2</sub>), or concentration of carbon dioxide, controls the [[respiratory rate]].

The [[peripheral chemoreceptor]]s that detect changes in the [[blood gas tension|levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide]] are located in the [[artery|arterial]] [[aortic body|aortic bodies]] and the [[carotid body|carotid bodies]].<ref name="GT"/> [[Central chemoreceptors]] are primarily sensitive to changes in the  [[pH#Living systems|pH]] of the [[blood]], (resulting from changes in the levels of carbon dioxide) and they are located on the [[medulla oblongata]] near to the [[respiratory centre|medullar respiratory groups]] of the [[respiratory center]].<ref name="Pocock">{{cite book|last1=Pocock|first1=Gillian|last2=Richards|first2=Christopher D.|title=Human physiology : the basis of medicine|date=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-856878-0|pages=332–336|edition=3rd}}</ref>
Information from the peripheral chemoreceptors is conveyed along nerves to the respiratory groups of the respiratory center.  There are four respiratory groups, two in the medulla and two in the [[pons]].<ref name="GT">{{cite book|last1=Tortora|first1=Gerard|title=Principles of anatomy and physiology.|date=2008|publisher=Wiley|location=Hoboken, N.J.|isbn=978-0470-23347-4|pages=905–909|edition=12.}}</ref> The two groups in the pons are known as the [[pontine respiratory group]].

# [[Dorsal respiratory group]]  – in the medulla
# [[Ventral respiratory group]] – in the medulla
# [[Pneumotaxic center]] – various nuclei of the pons
#[[Apneustic center]] – nucleus of the pons

From the respiratory center, the [[muscles of respiration]], in particular the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]],<ref>Tortora, G. J. and Derrickson, B. H., (2009). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology – Maintenance and continuity of the human body. 12th Edition. Danvers: Wiley</ref> are activated to cause air to move in and out of the lungs.