Abstract

The structure of several respiratory models are reviewed and the physiological foundations of salient features are explained. The models reviewed include an early model of Cheyne-Stokes breathing, the gas stores of the body following alterations in ventilation, sleep apnea considered as instability in the respiratory control system, a neurochemical model describing effects of neural drives on breathing in respiratory control of awake people, and inclusion in the neurochemical control system a respiratory pattern generator, as a potential source of apneas. Finally, current work is described to quantify obstructive apneas, and their interdependence with central apneas and the respiratory control system.

Keywords: Apnea, central apnea, Cheyne-Stokes breathing, control of breathing, hypercapnia, hypoxia, neural drives, obstructive apneas, periodic breathing, sleep apnea