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DonalWalsh · 21st February 2006, 10:45

CO2 and Hydrogen ion dissolved in the blood (as opposed to the partial pressure of the gas in the lungs) are important chemical regulators of respiration. CO2 has the ability to traverse the blood brain barrier and directly stimulate the ventilatory drive centre of the Medulla Oblongata. There are peripheral chemoreceptors in the lung the respond to changes in PaO2 and PaCO2 as well but its the central stimulation that's at the heart of respiratory control

CO2 is also the most important chemical regulator of blood flow to the brain - put simply if PaCO2 is brought too low you'll lose conciousness (try hyperventilating!)

21st February 2006, 10:45	#10 (permalink)
DonalWalsh Third Class Snorkeller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Moving to London in Sept.....which way to the South Coast?? Posts: 133	Re: urge to breathe and co2 scrubber CO2 and Hydrogen ion dissolved in the blood (as opposed to the partial pressure of the gas in the lungs) are important chemical regulators of respiration. CO2 has the ability to traverse the blood brain barrier and directly stimulate the ventilatory drive centre of the Medulla Oblongata. There are peripheral chemoreceptors in the lung the respond to changes in PaO2 and PaCO2 as well but its the central stimulation that's at the heart of respiratory control CO2 is also the most important chemical regulator of blood flow to the brain - put simply if PaCO2 is brought too low you'll lose conciousness (try hyperventilating!)
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