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Chapter 10 - Regulation of Organ Systems by the Lower Brain Stem

from Part IV - Representation of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Spinal Cord and Lower Brain Stem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2022

Wilfrid Jänig
Wilfrid Jänig
Affiliation:
Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany
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Summary

Regulation of the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is represented in the lower brain stem. These control systems require precise coordination and are closely integrated, which is reflected in the anatomy and physiology of the neural substrates of these control systems. Included in this integration are the final autonomic pathways, the enteric nervous system and the spinal autonomic circuits. The circuits in the medulla oblongata are under the control of the upper brain stem, hypothalamus and telencephalon. Neurons involved in regulation of arterial blood pressure and respiration are situated in rostrocaudally organized columns of neurons in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM). The rostral VLM is a sympathetic cardiovascular premotor nucleus mediating reflexes to sympathetic cardiovascular preganglionic neurons such as arterial baroreceptor, arterial chemoreceptor and other reflexes. The caudal raphe nuclei of the medulla oblongata are involved in thermoregulation and regulation of energy balance. The respiratory pattern in cardiovascular neurons is generated by the "common cardiorespiratory network" in the VLM. Neural control of the GIT by the lower brain stem is exerted by multiple reflex circuits consisting of vagal afferents from the GIT, neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the GIT.

Keywords

Blood pressurerespirationgastrointestinal tractrostral ventrolateral medullacaudal ventrolateral medullanucleus tractus solitariiarea postremadorsal vagus complexbaroreceptor reflexeschemoreceptor reflexesvasomotor nucleus
Type
Chapter
Information
The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System
Neurobiology of Homeostasis
 , pp. 292 - 352
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

Specific References for this Box

See further key references here.

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Suggested Reading

All references cited in the text are available online at www.cambridge.org/janig.

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