Medullary breathing centers directly sense and respond to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The medullary breathing centers are responsible for controlling breathing rate and depth. They directly sense and respond to changes in the pH and CO2 concentration of the blood. When CO2 levels increase and blood pH decreases, the medullary centers stimulate an increase in breathing rate and depth to rid the body of excess CO2 and restore pH balance. Therefore, option A is the most accurate choice. The other options are incorrect because the medullary centers do not directly sense and respond to blood O2 or alveolar concentrations.

Medullary Breathing Centers Directly Sense and Respond to