早在第二世紀就發現呼吸是經由大腦底部控制，但是直到Hering及Breuer兩位學者發現此肺牽張反射現象，提出迷走神經本身就可以自我調控呼吸的假說後，才了解呼吸的控制肺部、神經接受器與呼吸中樞間的交互作用。利用紀錄神經纖維動作電位的方式，也發現了牽張反射是經由肺部的慢速適應性牽張接受器所負責傳導，這些接受器乃是位於呼吸道的平滑肌裡面，能夠感受壓力及體積的變化且其作用能抑制吸氣的動作而延長吐氣時間。此篇文章也介紹這些接受器以及反射現象的特性、測量以及其他因子的影響，並試著探討臨床的意義及與疾病的相關性。

It has been known that respiratory movement is controlled by the basal portion of the human brain. Thecontrol of breathing and interaction between the lungs, neuroreceptors and respiratory centers were onlyunderstood after the finding of Hering and Breuer. They found pulmonary stretch reflexes and suggested thatvagal nerve could reflexly control the breathing pattern. With development of recording action potentials insingle vagal fiber, it is now known that the pulmonary stretch reflex is mediated by slowly adapting pulmonarystretch receptors, which are located within airway smooth muscles. They could detect the pressure and volumechange of the lung and inhibit inspiration and prolong expiration. This article also introduces characteristics of thereceptors, measurement of the reflexes, and influence of other factors. We also review the clinical significance ofthe reflexes and possible association with pulmonary diseases.