Open AccessLaryngeal Chemoreflex in Health and Disease: A Review
Author(s) -
Shivani Pathak,
Laurie Slovarp,
Matthew S. Clary,
Marie E. Jetté
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemical senses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.856
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1464-3553
pISSN - 0379-864X
DOI - 10.1093/chemse/bjaa069
Subject(s) - pathological , reflex , brainstem , larynx , neuroscience , medicine , mechanism (biology) , cough reflex , pathology , anesthesia , biology , anatomy , philosophy , epistemology
The larynx plays a key role in airway protection via the laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR). This involuntary reflex can be evoked when hazardous substances activate mucosal receptors, which send signals to be processed within the brainstem. Although the LCR is meant to be protective, the reflex can become hyperstimulated, even to benign stimuli, which can result in pathological disorders, such as chronic cough and inducible laryngeal obstruction. In this review, we will outline the mechanism of the LCR and its associated pathological disorders.