1.3 Discuss the role of the nervous system in generating the normal breathing rhythm.

The brain controls all bodily functions and the nervous system is a network that relays messages from the brain to the different parts of the body. Breathing is controlled by two centers in the brain, the Medulla Oblongata and the Pons. These are often called Brainstem and are responsibly for the body’s automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion and blinking. The Medulla Oblongata acts as the survival action of breathing and is a voluntary action. The Pons deals with the control of deep breathing (http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/brain_nervous_system.html#).
The nervous system depends on lots of tiny cells called neurons, neurons relay information by making connections and affect the way we learn, move and behave.
The nervous system offers sensors located in the aortic arch and these sense if the body has too much carbon dioxide or not enough oxygen. These also stimulate the parasympathetic and the sympathetic system. The sympathetic system speeds up the heart allowing more blood and oxygen to flow to parts of the parts of the body faster and then the parasympathetic system licks in ad the medulla Oblongata takes over and puts the breathing and the heart rate back to normal.