Final answer:
Breathing control is predominantly regulated by carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption. Variations in blood gas levels of CO2 and O2 trigger the brain's respiratory centers to adjust breathing rate and depth to maintain a stable internal environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The control of breathing is tightly linked to carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption. These two factors are crucial because they determine the respiratory rate and depth which are regulated by the medulla oblongata and pons in response to changing levels of CO2 and O2 in the blood. The rise in carbon dioxide levels or the fall in oxygen levels stimulate the respiratory centers to increase the rate and depth of respiration to maintain homeostasis.
Several mechanisms are involved in monitoring these levels including central chemoreceptors in the brain and peripheral chemoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid arteries. Gas exchange in the alveoli occurs according to Dalton's law and Henry's law, where gases move from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be expelled.