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Chapter 5 Sensory innervation of the lungs and airways

1986; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0079-6123(08)62756-9

1875-7855

J. G. Widdicombe,

Airway Management and Intubation Techniques

Most parts of the lungs and airways, but not the nose, are distensible and contain proprioceptors in their walls. However, distension and collapse will also affect afferent information from the surrounding somatic muscles of breathing, and the volume change may be initiated by the contraction of these muscles. Therefore, it is not always easy to determine the site of origin of the proprioceptive sensation: most analytical studies have depended on the nervous blockade by local anaesthesia or by disease. This chapter discusses the respiratory proprioception that can be of pressure, volume, flow, ventilation or loading, elastic or resistive loads frequently being studied. A mouthpiece or nose-clip is usually used, thus distorting an important part of the airway sensing system. Flow and pressure can certainly be detected in the nose and mouth, but there is little evidence for their detection more peripherally.