For how long do expiratory neurons fire to allow inspiratory muscles to relax?

The correct duration for which expiratory neurons fire to allow inspiratory muscles to relax is typically around 3 seconds. During the respiratory cycle, the activity of expiratory neurons plays a crucial role in ensuring that the diaphragm and other inspiratory muscles can relax after inhalation. This relaxation phase is essential for allowing passive expiration to occur, particularly during normal, quiet breathing.

The timing of around 3 seconds allows for sufficient transition from inspiration to expiration, ensuring that the lungs can effectively expel air without any interference or inadequate time for recovery of the inspiratory muscles. Understanding this mechanism is important for grasping how the respiratory cycle is regulated and how neural control influences breathing patterns.