The Hierarchical Order of Cardiovascular-Respiratory Coupling

Abstract

Cardiovascular and respiratory systems are coupled in the periphery in respect to the variables which they jointly control, such as metabolic transport and gas exchange. The physical properties of the common vascular bed (both large and small circulations which are in series) imply such coupling. Additionally afferents from cardiac (e.g., Koizumi et al., 1975), systemic arterial blood pressure (e.g., Eckberg and Orshan, 1977), and lung stretch receptors (e.g., Hainsworth, 1974) are linked in the common brainstem enabling coupling. Finally, there exists coordinated rhythmic activity of the regulating neuronal networks in the brainstem (Koepchen, 1977; Koepchen et al., 1981), resulting in various mutual interactions between the two systems.