Ventral respiratory group
Encyclopedia
The ventral respiratory group (VRG) is a column of neurons located in the ventrolateral region of the medulla
Medulla oblongata
The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...

, extending from the caudal facial nucleus to -400μm obex. The four cell groups of the VRG are the rostral nucleus retrofacialis, caudal nucleus retroambiguus, nucleus para-ambiguus, and the pre-Bötzinger complex
Pre-Botzinger complex
The Pre-Bötzinger Complex is a cluster of interneurons in the ventrolateral medulla of the brainstem, which is essential to the generation of respiratory rhythm in mammals...

.

Respiratory effects

The VRG contains both inspiratory and expiratory neurons. The VRG is secondarily responsible for initiation of inspiratory activity
Inhalation
Inhalation is the movement of air from the external environment, through the air ways, and into the alveoli....

, after the dorsal respiratory group
Dorsal respiratory group
The dorsal respiratory group is located in the dorsomedial region of the medulla, and is composed of cells in the solitary tract nucleus. The DRG is one of two known respiratory neuron localizations, with the other being the ventral respiratory group. The DRG is found in many types of fish and...

. The nucleus para-ambiguus is active during inspiration, while the nucleus retrofacialis and the nucleus retroambiguus are active during exhalation.

The VRG is responsible for motor control of inspiratory and expiratory muscles during exercise.

The pre-Bötzinger complex is the hypothesized location of central respiratory rhythm pattern generation circuitry. It is currently unclear how this system regulates its output to effect motoneuron bursting, which in turn is responsible for inspiratory muscle innervation. Research into the function of the pre-Bötzinger complex is currently being studied by making use of the in vitro slice preparation.

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