Control of breathing 1

Control of breathing

The medulla (in the brain) contains a ventilation centre. This monitors the pH of the blood, which is an indicator of the level of carbon dioxide in the blood.
An increase in the acidity of the blood will cause the breathing rate to increase.

The ventilation centre contains an inspiratory and an expiratory centre.
Impulses from the inspiratory centre are sent to the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, initiating inspiration.