Journal of Applied Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 58: 1136-1142, 1985;
8750-7587/85 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reid, M. B.
Right arrow Articles by Mead, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reid, M. B.
Right arrow Articles by Mead, J.

Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 58, Issue 4 1136-1142, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Reflex compensation of spontaneous breathing when immersion changes diaphragm length

M. B. Reid, R. B. Banzett, H. A. Feldman and J. Mead

We measured tidal volume (VT), chest wall dimensions, end-tidal PCO2, and respiratory muscle electromyograms as seated subjects were immersed in water. We studied nine spontaneously breathing subjects; five were uninformed. Raising the water to xiphoid level pushed the abdomen in and expanded the rib cage at end expiration. This increased the diaphragm's operating length, giving it a contractile advantage, and shortened the inspiratory intercostals, giving them a contractile disadvantage. Peak inspiratory activities of both muscle groups decreased; inspiratory time (TI), respiratory frequency (f), and VT were unchanged. The experiments thus demonstrated operational length compensation during immersion and further showed that inspiratory muscle activation is not adjusted locally, according to changes in each muscle's length, but rather that the response is global. Xiphoid-to-shoulder immersion was less easily interpreted, since both rib cage and abdomen were compressed, lengthening both inspiratory muscles. Our subjects continued to maintain VT, f, and TI. Peak inspiratory activities of both muscles were further reduced. We do not attribute the change in inspiratory muscle activation to altered chemical drive or to voluntary response. Rather, the response appears to be a mechanoreceptive reflex that employs afferent information from the lungs or diaphragm to adjust all inspiratory muscle activities.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
R. L. Dellaca, D. Bettinelli, C. Kays, P. Techoueyres, J. L. Lachaud, P. Vaida, and G. Miserocchi
Effect of changing the gravity vector on respiratory output and control
J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1219 - 1226.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. E. Butler, D. K. McKenzie, and S. C. Gandevia
Discharge frequencies of single motor units in human diaphragm and parasternal muscles in lying and standing
J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2001; 90(1): 147 - 154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
N M Siafakas, I Mitrouska, D Bouros, and D Georgopoulos
Surgery and the respiratory muscles
Thorax, May 1, 1999; 54(5): 458 - 465.
[Full Text]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
M. Wantier, M. Estenne, S. Verbanck, G. K. Prisk, and M. Paiva
Chest wall mechanics in sustained microgravity
J Appl Physiol, June 1, 1998; 84(6): 2060 - 2065.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online