Activation of juxtapulmonary-capillary receptors during pulmonary embolism causes the following physiological change:
Pulmonary embolism causes rapid shallow breathing (tachypnea). The receptors responsible for initiating these responses are located in the walls of the pulmonary capillaries or in the interstitium; therefore, they are called J (for juxtapulmonary-capillary) receptors. Stimulation of these receptors by pulmonary vascular congestion or an increase in pulmonary interstitial fluid volume leads to tachypnea; decreased stimulation of the receptors caused by pulmonary emboli obstructing vessels proximal to the capillaries leads to decreased ventilation. In addition, these receptors might be responsible for the dyspnea encountered during the pulmonary vascular congestion and edema secondary to left ventricular failure or even the dyspnea that healthy people feel at the onset of exercise. Ref: Levitzky M.G. (2013). Chapter 9. Control of Breathing. In M.G. Levitzky (Ed),Pulmonary Physiology, 8e.
Tachycardia
Hypeension
Apnoea
Tachypnea