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The carotid body functions as a sensor: it responds to a stimulus, primarily O 2 partial pressure, which is detected by the type I (glomus) cells, and triggers an action potential through the afferent fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which relays the information to the central nervous system.
The carotid body is not labelled but is located within the wall of the internal carotid artery near the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Glomus type I cells are the chemoreceptor cells found in the carotid body. Glomus cells are the cell type mainly located in the carotid bodies and aortic bodies. Glomus type I cells are peripheral ...
Carotid bodies are considered the primary peripheral chemoreceptor and have been shown to contribute more to a hypoxic response. However, in the chronic absence of the carotid body, the aortic body is able to perform a similar respiratory regulatory role, suggesting that it possesses efficacious mechanisms of signal transduction as well. [5]
This signal may be in the form of an action potential, if the chemoreceptor is a neuron, [2] or in the form of a neurotransmitter that can activate a nerve fiber if the chemoreceptor is a specialized cell, such as taste receptors, [3] or an internal peripheral chemoreceptor, such as the carotid bodies. [4]
The carotid sinus contains numerous baroreceptors which function as a "sampling area" for many homeostatic mechanisms for maintaining blood pressure.The carotid sinus baroreceptors are innervated by the carotid sinus nerve, which is a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
Peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid and aortic bodies) and central chemoreceptors (medullary neurons) primarily function to regulate respiratory activity. This is an important mechanism for maintaining arterial blood pO2, pCO2 , and pH within appropriate physiological ranges.
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Some sources equate the "aortic bodies" and "paraaortic bodies", while other sources explicitly distinguish between the two. [4] [5] When a distinction is made, the "aortic bodies" are chemoreceptors which regulate the circulatory system, while the "paraaortic bodies" are the chromaffin cells which manufacture catecholamines. [6]