Hypoxic Drive

In a normal person it is the carbon dioxide in the blood that triggers the urge to breath. In a person with compromised gas exchange (COPD, chronic bronchitis) the body gets used to the high levels of CO2 and so no urge to breathe. For these individuals, it is the lowered oxygen level that triggers the urge to take a breath. This is hypoxic drive- got this from yahoo! Basically its the altered chemoreceptor function in regard with chronic Pco2 levels and it happens more at the peripheral chemoreceptor(blood vessels) level and this time it is your Po2 altering your respiratory rate and not Pco2!

Quote:

Originally Posted by millymoo88

Hi there,

I trying to explain what hypoxic drive is but Im getting stuck and confused. Please help!