Central Nervous System (CNS) and Cough Reflex Suppression (CNS)

The central nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating and suppressing the cough reflex. This involves sensory integration in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and other medullary centers, coordination of motor output to respiratory muscles, and modulation by higher cortical regions for voluntary control. Antitussive drugs target various points within this network, including opioid receptors, GABAergic pathways, and glutamate receptors, to reduce cough frequency and severity.

Other names

Cough Reflex PathwayCentral Cough ControlMedullary Cough CenterNucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS) in CoughCough regulatory network

Modulation of synaptic transmission in medullary cough centers (e.g., NTS), enhancement of GABAergic inhibition, suppression of glutamatergic excitation, opioid receptor-mediated inhibition of cough pathways, and modulation of cortical control over cough.