Central Control of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems and Their Interactions in Vertebrates
Abstract
This review explores the fundamental neuranatomical and functional bases for integration of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in vertebrates and traces their evolution through the vertebrate groups, from primarily water-breathing fish and larval amphibians to facultative air-breathers such as lungfish and some adult amphibians and finally obligate air-breathers among the reptiles, birds, and mammals. A comparative account of respiratory rhythm generation leads to consideration of the changing roles in cardiorespiratory integration for central and peripheral chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors and their central projections. We review evidence of a developing role in the control of cardiorespiratory interactions for the partial relocation from the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus into the nucleus ambiguus of vagal preganglionic neurons, and in particular those innervating the heart, and for the existence of a functional topography of specific groups of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord. Finally, we consider the mechanisms generating temporal modulation of heart rate, vasomotor tone, and control of the airways in mammals; cardiorespiratory synchrony in fish; and integration of the cardiorespiratory system during intermittent breathing in amphibians, reptiles, and diving birds. Concluding comments suggest areas for further productive research.
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Decreased body sway and heart rate (bradycardic effect) have been demonstrated in response to threatening stimuli (pictures of angry faces or of mutilation), social-threat stimuli, and states of anticipatory anxiety.
“Decreased body sway and heart rate (bradycardic effect) have been demonstrated in response to threatening stimuli (pictures of angry faces or of mutilation), social-threat stimuli, and states of anticipatory anxiety.73–81”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [79]
The gating of vagal activity by respiration is mediated centrally, with cardiac vagal neurons from the nucleus ambiguous modulating heart function in synchrony with the respiratory cycle, so that slowing the breathing rate automatically upregulates vagal activity.
“In general, the gating of vagal activity by respiration is mediated centrally; cardiac vagal neurons from the nucleus ambiguous sit in close proximity to neurons involved in respiration and modulate heart function in synchrony with the respiratory cycle, with the consequence that if the breathing rate slows, vagal activity is automatically upregulated.102,145”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [102]
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- Authors
- Taylor, E. W., Jordan, D., & Coote, J. H.
- Affiliations
- The Royal Free Hospital (GB)
- ORCID
- Taylor, Edwin W.
- Venue
- Physiological Reviews
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1999-07-01
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 855-916
- ISSN
- 0031-9333 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1210
- OpenAlex
- W2138663406
- Cited by
- 388
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physiological Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Keywords
- respiratory control, cardiovascular regulation, central chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, nucleus ambiguus, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, sympathetic preganglionic neurons, spinal cord, respiratory rhythm generation, airway management, heart rate modulation, vascular tone, diving birds, amphibians, lungfish, evolution of respiration, vertebrates
- MeSH terms
- Afferent Pathways, Animals, Autonomic Nervous System, Cardiovascular System, Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena, Central Nervous System, Humans, Respiratory System, Respiratory Physiological Phenomena, Sympathetic Nervous System, Vertebrates
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