Biomaterial Database

Physiology of breathing and respiratory control during sleep. 2005

William R Krimsky, and James C Leiter

Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.

Studies of respiratory control during sleep have revealed that multiple sites of central CO (2) chemosensitivity exist within the brainstem, and different chemosensory sites may function only during certain sleep states. In general, chemical control of respiratory function, related to both hypercapnia and hypoxia, appears to be blunted during sleep. The decline in respiratory activity during sleep is particularly marked in the muscles of the upper airway. A variety of neuromechanical factors originating in the lungs, chest wall, and upper airway also modify respiratory function during sleep. Cardiorespiratory function seems to be less stable during sleep, and arousal responses represent a final element in the control system that preserves cardiorespiratory function by terminating the sleep state and restoring more effective control mechanisms.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011659	Pulmonary Gas Exchange	The exchange of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood that occurs across the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER.	Exchange, Pulmonary Gas,Gas Exchange, Pulmonary
D012018	Reflex	An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D002628	Chemoreceptor Cells	Cells specialized to detect chemical substances and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Chemoreceptor cells may monitor external stimuli, as in TASTE and OLFACTION, or internal stimuli, such as the concentrations of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE in the blood.	Chemoreceptive Cells,Cell, Chemoreceptive,Cell, Chemoreceptor,Cells, Chemoreceptive,Cells, Chemoreceptor,Chemoreceptive Cell,Chemoreceptor Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006935	Hypercapnia	A clinical manifestation of abnormal increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
D000860	Hypoxia	Sub-optimal OXYGEN levels in the ambient air of living organisms.	Anoxia,Oxygen Deficiency,Anoxemia,Deficiency, Oxygen,Hypoxemia,Deficiencies, Oxygen,Oxygen Deficiencies
D012894	Sleep Stages	Periods of sleep manifested by changes in EEG activity and certain behavioral correlates; they formerly included Stage 1: sleep onset, drowsy sleep; Stage 2: light sleep; Stages 3 and 4: delta sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, telencephalic sleep. In 2007, sleep stages were redefined by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as: N1-N2 (sleep onset - light sleep), N3 (SLOW-WAVE SLEEP), and REM SLEEP.	N1-Sleep,N2-Sleep,NREM Stage 1,NREM Stage 2,N1 Sleep,N2 Sleep,Sleep Stage,Stage, Sleep,Stages, Sleep
D015656	Respiratory Mechanics	The physical or mechanical action of the LUNGS; DIAPHRAGM; RIBS; and CHEST WALL during respiration. It includes airflow, lung volume, neural and reflex controls, mechanoreceptors, breathing patterns, etc.	Breathing Mechanics,Breathing Mechanic,Mechanic, Breathing,Mechanic, Respiratory,Mechanics, Breathing,Mechanics, Respiratory,Respiratory Mechanic
D020181	Sleep Apnea, Obstructive	A disorder characterized by recurrent apneas during sleep despite persistent respiratory efforts. It is due to upper airway obstruction. The respiratory pauses may induce HYPERCAPNIA or HYPOXIA. Cardiac arrhythmias and elevation of systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures may occur. Frequent partial arousals occur throughout sleep, resulting in relative SLEEP DEPRIVATION and daytime tiredness. Associated conditions include OBESITY; ACROMEGALY; MYXEDEMA; micrognathia; MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY; adenotonsilar dystrophy; and NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p395)	Obstructive Sleep Apnea,Upper Airway Resistance Sleep Apnea Syndrome,Apnea, Obstructive Sleep,OSAHS,Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome,Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome,Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Obstructive,Syndrome, Obstructive Sleep Apnea,Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive,Syndrome, Upper Airway Resistance, Sleep Apnea,Apneas, Obstructive Sleep,Obstructive Sleep Apneas,Sleep Apneas, Obstructive