Which receptors are responsible for fine-tuning respiration in response to elevated CO2 levels?

The choice highlighting peripheral chemoreceptors correctly identifies the specialized receptors that are primarily responsible for detecting elevated CO2 levels in the blood. These chemoreceptors are located in the carotid arteries and the aortic arch. They play a crucial role in monitoring the chemical composition of blood, particularly focusing on changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations.

When CO2 levels rise, the peripheral chemoreceptors sense this increase and subsequently stimulate an increase in the rate and depth of breathing to facilitate the expulsion of CO2 and enhance oxygen intake. This regulatory mechanism is vital for maintaining homeostasis and ensuring that the body's metabolic demands are met effectively.

In contrast, central chemoreceptors, although important for general respiratory control, primarily respond to changes in the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid, which indirectly reflects CO2 levels but is not their primary function. Muscle receptors are involved in proprioception and coordination during movement rather than directly regulating respiration based on gas levels. Stretch receptors, found in the lungs, help regulate the respiratory cycle by responding to lung inflation but do not directly tune respiration in response to CO2 levels. Thus, peripheral chemoreceptors are essential for fine-tuning respiration in response to elevated CO2, making