The chemosensitive area situated adjacent to the respiratory rhythm centre is highly sensitive to

A chemosensitive area is situated adjacent to the rhythm centre which is highly sensitive to CO₂ and hydrogen ions. Actually, CO₂ has little direct effect in stimulating the neurons in the chemosensitive area, it does have a potent indirect effect. It does this by reacting with the water of the tissues to form H₂CO₃, which dissociates into H⁺ and HCO₃^-. The H⁺ ions then have a potent direct stimulatory effect on respiratory rhythm centre.