The provided code models a system of biological processes related to respiratory physiology, integrating neural, muscular, and oxygen transport dynamics. Here are the key biological aspects represented in the code:
The CPG section models the neural activity responsible for generating rhythmic breathing patterns. This involves:
This part models the relationship between neural activity from the CPG and muscular response:
The model incorporates aspects of lung volume dynamics:
The code also models the dynamics of oxygen transport and exchange:
Lung Oxygen Partial Pressure (PO2lung): Describes the exchange of oxygen in the lungs with external air, influenced by changes in lung volume.
Blood Oxygen Partial Pressure (PO2blood): Models the exchange between lung oxygen and blood oxygen, considering oxygen binding to hemoglobin and its transport through blood.
Oxygen Content (CaO2): Calculated based on hemoglobin concentration and the saturation level (SaO2), which is determined by the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood.
Key variables such as n
, h
, and α
represent gating variables for ion channels and muscle activation. These dynamics are governed by sigmoidal functions and time constants (tau_n
and tau_h
), representative of the biological processes of ion channel gating and depolarization-repolarization cycles in neurons.
Overall, the code integrates these components to simulate the complex interaction between neural, muscular, and respiratory systems required to sustain the rhythmic act of breathing and efficient oxygen transport.