The Effects of Hypoxemia on the Carotid Body

Central and peripheral chemo receptors are located near the ventralactral surface of the medulla. The CO2 will cross the blood brain barrier, combined with water, dissociate into hydrogen ion. Hypoxia is also sensed centrally, and then you get an increasing respiratory response but it largely augments the CO2 response. If you're hypocapnic and hypoxic, you'll breathe even faster than if you're just hypocapnic.