Final answer:
The breathing control centers are located in two main areas of the brain: the medulla and the pons. In the medulla, there is the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) and the ventral respiratory group (VRG). The pons has the pontine respiratory group, which consists of the apneustic and pneumotaxic centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
These centers are crucial for involuntary control over the breathing muscles, including the diaphragm and the external and internal intercostal muscles. The medulla oblongata houses the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) and the ventral respiratory group (VRG), which regulate the rhythm of breathing and forced breathing, respectively. Meanwhile, within the pons, the pontine respiratory group, consisting of the apneustic and pneumotaxic centers, influences the depth and rate of breathing.
Unconscious control of breathing is automatically and continuously handled by these respiratory centers, adjusting the rate of breathing based on the body's needs, such as during exercise when carbon dioxide levels increase.