Neural Control of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Functions

Aerobic cellular metabolism is essential for life in vertebrates. In mammals, we transport O₂ from the environment into the body via the lung, at which point it passes into the bloodstream, where it is circulated to all tissues and CO₂ is absorbed for disposal via the lung. The brain plays a critical role in this process: generating and controlling the neural discharge to rhythmically activate the muscles that expand and squeeze the lung for air exchange and to modulate cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle that determine the amount and distribution of blood flow to the tissues. The circulation is also an essential conduit for the delivery of nutrients, the removal of metabolic byproducts, and the transport of hormones and drugs. The cardiopulmonary nervous system has to be extremely reliable from birth to death with essentially no pauses, and exceptionally flexible, supporting the metabolic demands of behavior over an order of magnitude range from rest to the extreme exertion that might be required to flee from a predator or chase down prey. Here, we provide an overview of the critical CNS mechanisms controlling cardiopulmonary function.