Respiratory rate

Respiratory rate is the number of breaths taken per unit of time, usually expressed as breaths per minute. It is a basic measure of breathing frequency.

Respiratory centers: Brainstem networks that generate and regulate the signals controlling breathing. They set the timing and adjust the frequency of breaths.
Vital signs: Basic physiological measurements used to assess a person's current health status. Respiratory rate is routinely recorded alongside pulse, temperature, and blood pressure.
Pulmonary ventilation: The movement of air into and out of the lungs. Respiratory rate counts cycles of this air movement, not the volume moved.
Dyspnea: The subjective sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing. A person can feel breathless without an unusually high measured rate.
Chemoreceptor: A sensory cell or organ that detects chemical changes, such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, or acidity. Chemoreceptors alter breathing frequency as blood gases and acidity change.
Tachypnea: Abnormally rapid breathing. It names an elevated respiratory rate that may signal illness or physiological stress.
Tidal volume: The volume of air inhaled or exhaled during one normal breath. Rate and tidal volume together determine how much air is moved per minute.
Hyperventilation: Alveolar ventilation exceeding the body's carbon dioxide production, lowering arterial carbon dioxide. Rapid breathing may occur, but rate alone does not establish excessive ventilation.
Medulla oblongata: The lower part of the brainstem, connecting the brain to the spinal cord and controlling vital functions. Its respiratory networks help generate the basic breathing rhythm.
Bradypnea: Abnormally slow breathing. It describes a low respiratory rate that can accompany medication effects or neurological problems.

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BreathingRelated: Its changes indicate shifts in breathing demand or respiratory control.