Local and reflex regulation of circulation and excretion
Local and reflex regulation of circulation concerns how the width of small vessels is set. The held texts name a vasomotor centre in the medulla that raises or lowers pressure widely, and they ask what governs flow in single organs. Haldane argued in 1917 that the centre does not explain flow matched to local need.7 The question links nerve action, tissue chemistry and the body's response to its own state.
- Earliest held
- 1890, James, W.
- Most discussed in
- Principles of General Physiology, 1915
- In the library
- 15 passages in 6 works
- Rewritten
- 2026-10-10
Early observations
William James, in 1890, used the vasomotor centre to explain why one cause does not give one emotional display. He wrote that the same cause can work differently on different people's blood-vessels, and that impulses reaching the centre are shaped by earlier impressions.1 He also reported Dr. Hecker's view that laughter counteracts anaemia of the brain, which Hecker supposed the comic stimulus produces through the vasomotor nerves.2
Cord section and shock
Loeb, in 1900, cited work by Goltz and Ewald. They severed the spinal cord of animals and found marked ulceration of the skin. A second operation on the cord behind the cut made the disturbances much less severe or absent.3 Loeb suggested that abnormal chemical processes, perhaps caused by the vasomotor nerves through disturbed oxygen supply, might lie behind these changes.4 Sherrington, in 1906, argued that the fall of arterial pressure cannot be the chief cause of spinal shock. After post-thoracic transection the region beyond the lesion showed shock as severe as after cervical transection, with no fall in blood-pressure.5
Tonic dilator supply
Bayliss, in 1915, described an experiment on an eviscerated animal whose aorta was connected to an arrangement that prevented any rise of pressure. Stimulating the vagus still produced constriction in the submaxillary gland, shown by longer intervals between the drops of blood.6 Because the only vasomotor nerves to the gland were dilators, Bayliss inferred that constriction could only come from inhibiting impulses from the centre, which kept those nerves in a state of tonic stimulation.6
Local control
Haldane, in 1917, asked how the vasomotor nerves are themselves excited. He placed a centre in the medulla oblongata that reflexly augments or inhibits the impulses passing to the arteries. Its destruction brings a great fall in arterial pressure. He held that this centre does not explain regulation of flow in different organs according to local requirements.7 He pointed to subordinate centres for local supply. He suggested that afferent nerve-endings are excited by accumulated products of metabolism or by lack of substances used up.8 The earlier texts reason from the central centre. Haldane marks its limit.7
one and the same cause can work differently on different men's blood-vessels (since these do not always react alike)
James, W., 1890 · The Principles of Psychology, Vols. 1-2 · open at passage 2740according to Dr. Hecker, the purpose of counteracting the ansBmia of the brain, which he supposes to be brought about by the action of the joyous or comic stimulus upon the vasomotor nerves.
James, W., 1890 · The Principles of Psychology, Vols. 1-2 · open at passage 2797When they severed the spinal cord of animals, these phenomena of ulceration of the skin were very pronounced. But if they afterward operated on the spinal cord behind the cut, the disturbances were much less severe or failed to appear.
Loeb, J., 1900 · Comparative Physiology of the Brain and Comparative Psychology · open at passage 305It is conceivable that the cause of these phenomena is to be sought in abnormal chemical processes which are perhaps caused by the vasomotor nerves
Loeb, J., 1900 · Comparative Physiology of the Brain and Comparative Psychology · open at passage 305(2) with post-thoracic transection the body region distal to the spinal lesion exhibits shock as severe as after cervical transection, though there is no fall of blood-pressure
Sherrington, C. S., 1906 · The Integrative Action of the Nervous System · open at passage 512Since the only vasomotor nerves were dilators, constriction could only be caused by inhibiting the impulses from the centre which kept these nerves in a state of tonic stimulation.
Bayliss, W. M., 1915 · Principles of General Physiology · open at passage 1812But the action of this centre does not explain the local regulation of blood flow in different organs in accordance with local requirements.
Haldane, J. S., 1917 · Organism and Environment as Illustrated by the Physiology of Breathing · open at passage 127The afferent nerve-endings are apparently excited by excessive accumulation of products of metabolism or by deficiency of the sub- stances used up.
Haldane, J. S., 1917 · Organism and Environment as Illustrated by the Physiology of Breathing · open at passage 127the existence of the vasomotor nerves and the theory of animal heat, the influence of poisons, studied in themselves and as a means of analyzing physiological phenomena
Bernard, C., 1957 · An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine · open at passage 34
| 1915 | Principles of General Physiology · Bayliss, W. M. | 8 |
| 1890 | The Principles of Psychology, Vols. 1-2 · James, W. | 3 |
| 1906 | The Integrative Action of the Nervous System · Sherrington, C. S. | 1 |
| 1900 | Comparative Physiology of the Brain and Comparative Psychology · Loeb, J. | 1 |
| 1917 | Organism and Environment as Illustrated by the Physiology of Breathing · Haldane, J. S. | 1 |
| 1957 | An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine · Bernard, C. | 1 |