TY - JOUR T1 - Pathophysiology of human ventilatory control JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 495 LP - 512 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00048514 VL - 44 IS - 2 AU - Jerome A. Dempsey AU - Curtis A. Smith Y1 - 2014/08/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/2/495.abstract N2 - We review the substantial recent progress made in understanding the underlying mechanisms controlling breathing and the applicability of these findings to selected human diseases. Emphasis is placed on the sites of central respiratory rhythm and pattern generation as well as newly described functions of the carotid chemoreceptors, the integrative nature of the central chemoreceptors, and the interaction between peripheral and central chemoreception. Recent findings that support critical contributions from cortical central command and muscle afferent feedback to exercise hyperpnoea are also reviewed. These basic principles, and the evidence supporting chemoreceptor and ventilatory control system plasticity during and following constant and intermittent hypoxaemia and stagnant hypoxia, are applied to: 1) the pathogenesis, consequences and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea; and 2) exercise hyperpnoea and its control and limitations with ageing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. We review control of breathing in humans and how new findings lead to novel treatments in sleep apnoea, CHF and COPD http://ow.ly/weJ7A ER -