Table 2.

Receptors and their effect on autonomic respiratory drive^a

	Peripheral chemoreceptors	Pulmonary stretch receptors	Irritant receptors	Pulmonary juxtapulmonary capillary receptors	Baroreceptors	Proprioceptors	Other receptors	Central chemoreceptors
Location	Aortic arch Carotid bodies	Airway smooth muscle	Epithelium of nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi	Pulmonary capillary walls	Aortic arch	Muscles and joints (tendon organs)	Nociceptors in skin, organs Mechanoreceptors in skin	Ventrolateral surface of each side of medulla
Sense	Hypoxemia Acidosis Hypercapnia	Lung inflation Increased pulmonary pressures	Inhaled irritants Mechanical factors: Anaphylaxis Pulmonary congestion	Pulmonary congestion Increased interstitial fluid Chemical irritants Microemboli	Change in blood pressure	Body movement	Pain Touch	Hydrogen ion concentration in cerebrospinal fluid Carbon dioxide crosses blood-brain barrier and yields carbonic acid
Sent to medulla by	Vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves	Vagus nerve	Vagus nerve	Vagus nerve	Vagus nerve	Ascending spinal nerves	Ascending spinal nerves	Bathing cerebrospinal fluid
Effect on respiratory drive	If acidotic or hypoxemic: Increased rate and tidal volume If alkalotic: Decreased rate and tidal volume	Increased inspiratory time Increased rate	Hyperpnea Cough Laryngospasm	Rapid, shallow breathing Hypoventilation	If low blood pressure: Hyperventilation If high blood pressure: Hypoventilation	Increased rate and tidal volume	Visceral pain: Decreased drive Somatic pain: Increased drive	Acidosis: Increased drive Alkalosis: Decreased drive

^aBased on data from Kacmarek et al.²¹