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Physiology General a127e874

Central Chemoreceptors are most sensitive to which of the following changes in blood?

A
|p CO2
B
|p CO2
C
|H +
D
|p O2
High-Yield Explanation
Central chemoreceptors are stimulated mainly by the |H+ concentration caused by increased pCO2 levels. Since H+ cannot easily cross the blood brain barrier, increase in the blood H+ concentration have little effect in stimulating central chemo receptors. Increase in blood p CO2 causes CO2 to diffuse the blood brain barrier with ease where it reacts with water to form carbonic acid. This carbonic acid in turn dissociates into H+ and bicarbonate ions. This H+ ions then have a potent stimulatory effect on the central chemo receptors. This question asks about the changes in blood that stimulates the central chemo receptors. So the correct answer is |p CO2 levels as H+ concentration in blood has little effect in stimulating the central chemo receptors. Ref: Textbook Of Medical Physiology By Khurana, Page 458

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