Baroreceptor

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Baroreceptor

Baroreceptors (pronounced: /ˌbæroʊrɪˈsɛptər/), also known as baroceptors, are specialized neurons that detect changes in blood pressure. They are a type of mechanoreceptor.

Etymology

The term "baroreceptor" comes from the Greek words baros, meaning weight, and aisthētēr, meaning perceiver. Thus, a baroreceptor is a "weight perceiver", referring to its function in sensing changes in blood pressure.

Function

Baroreceptors are located in the walls of the aorta and carotid arteries. They respond to changes in the stretch of the arterial walls caused by changes in blood pressure. When blood pressure rises, the arterial walls stretch and the baroreceptors fire at a higher rate. Conversely, when blood pressure falls, the arterial walls recoil and the baroreceptors fire at a lower rate. This information is sent to the brain, which responds by adjusting the heart rate and the strength of heart contractions, as well as the diameter of blood vessels, to maintain blood pressure within a normal range.

Related Terms

  • Mechanoreceptor: A type of sensory receptor that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion.
  • Aorta: The main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen.
  • Carotid arteries: Major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain, neck, and face.
  • Blood pressure: The pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

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