Cardiovascular Control During Exercise: The Connectivity of Skeletal Muscle Afferents to the Brain
André L. Teixeira, Igor A. Fernandes, Lauro C. Vianna
Abstract
The exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is engaged upon the activation of group III/IV skeletal muscle afferents and is one of the principal mediators of cardiovascular responses to exercise. This review explores the hypothesis that afferent signals from EPR communicate via GABAergic contacts within the brain stem to evoke parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathoexcitation to increase cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and blood pressure during exercise.
Topics & Concepts
Skeletal muscleReflexNeuroscienceMedicineAfferentPeripheralInternal medicinePsychologyHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlCardiovascular and exercise physiologyNeuroscience of respiration and sleep