The respiratory nerve centers are located in the cortex, mesencephalon, pons, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord, and these nerve cell groups are capable of regulating the normal respiratory movements of the body, and of regulating the depth and rhythm of breathing. The respiratory nerve center regulates the contraction and diastole of the respiratory muscles, which allows the body to perform normal respiratory movements and ventilation. If the respiratory nerve center is damaged, it can lead to the cessation of the body’s voluntary respiratory function, which can cause severe respiratory arrest and heart failure at any time, leading to death.