Final answer:
The statement about medullary inspiratory neurons receiving inhibitory input from the pons and pulmonary stretch receptors is true, as the pneumotaxic center and the Herring-Breuer reflex are key regulatory mechanisms in the control of breathing rate and lung inflation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that medullary inspiratory neurons receive inhibitory neural input from the pons and also from pulmonary stretch receptors is true. The pneumotaxic center, a network of neurons within the pons, does inhibit the activity of the neurons in the dorsal respiratory group (DRG). This inhibition from the pontine respiratory group, including the pneumotaxic center, plays a crucial role in controlling the rate of breathing, essentially regulating the transition from inhalation to exhalation. Additionally, pulmonary stretch receptors provide inhibitory feedback to the DRG to help prevent over-inflation of the lungs, a mechanism known as the Herring-Breuer reflex.