. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jul 15.

Published in final edited form as: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006 Apr 27;101(2):618–627. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00252.2006

Table 1.

Major classes of pulmonary receptors and their reflex effects

Receptor Type	Reflex Effects
SAR	Breuer-Hering reflex: inspiratory termination, expiratory facilitation Enhancement of inspiratory effort Bronchodilation Tachycardia
RAR	Cough Broncho- and laryngoconstriction Augmented breath/gasp (on stimulation of RAR by a large, rapid lung inflation) Irregular, augmented inspiration and shortened expiration (on maintained airway deflation or inhalation of irritants) Airway mucus secretion
Slowly adapting deflation receptors (present in rats and rabbits; some may be classified as RARs based on lung deflation tests)	Unknown
Bronchopulmonary C fibers	Rapid, shallow breathing Apnea (on synchronous chemical stimulation) Broncho- and laryngoconstriction Airway mucus secretion Vasodilatation (pulmonary C fibers only) Bradycardia

SAR, slowly adapting stretch receptor; RAR, rapidly adapting stretch receptor.