How does the 'apneustic center' in the lower pons affect the breathing pattern?
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Correct answer: It prolongs inspiration, leading to deep, gasping breaths
The apneustic center has an excitatory effect on the inspiratory area of the medulla. If not inhibited by the pneumotaxic center or vagal lung stretch signals, it causes prolonged inspiratory gasps, a condition known as apneusis.
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