Question

How do the vrg and drg control and regulate the respiratory rate?

Answer 1

Answer:

The ventral respiratory group (VRG) and the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) within the medullary rhythmicity area cooperate to establish the pattern for spontaneous ventilation and basal rate of ventilation which may be adjusted by impulses from related respiratory control centers in the pons; the ventral respiratory group (VRG) contains both inspiratory and expiratory neurons; the autorythmic inspiratory neurons stimulate the diaphragm and external intercostals for approximately 2 seconds to cause inspirations and then the antagonistic expiratory neurons fire for approximately 3 seconds to permit passive or stimulate active expirations; thereby inspiratory and expiratory neurons cooperate in a negative feedback control relationship, setting the basic rhythm of respiration (spontaneous ventilation, resting or tidal breathing (eupnea)); the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) neurons are involved in altering the pattern for ventilation in response to the physiological needs of the body for O2 and CO2 exchange and for blood acid-base balance; these neurons stimulate neurons in the ventral respiratory group (VRG) to achieve those effects; they are responsive to sensory information from chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors.

Explanation: