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Apneic Threshold

Meaning

The precise partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the arterial blood below which a person ceases to breathe spontaneously, resulting in a period of apnea. This physiological boundary reflects the minimal chemical drive necessary to stimulate the respiratory centers in the brainstem. Clinically, understanding this threshold is vital, especially in sleep medicine and critical care, as it dictates the body’s autonomous control over respiration.