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Noun: respiratory center
Usage: US (elsewhere: respiratory centre)
  1. The center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles
    "Damage to the respiratory center can lead to breathing difficulties";
    - respiratory centre [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: respiratory centers

Type of: center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], nerve center [US], nerve centre [Brit, Cdn]

Part of: bulb [archaic], medulla, medulla oblongata, pons, pons Varolii

Encyclopedia: Respiratory center