BARORECEPTOR REFLEX

The baroreceptor mechanisms are fast, neurally mediated reflexes that attempt to keep arterial pressure
constant via changes in the output of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to the heart and
blood vessels (Fig. 4-31). Pressure sensors, the baroreceptors, are located within the walls of the carotid
sinus and the aortic arch and relay information about blood pressure to cardiovascular vasomotor centers in
the brain stem. The vasomotor centers, in turn, coordinate a change in output of the autonomic nervous
system to effect the desired change in P a. Thus, the reflex arc consists of sensors for blood pressure; afferent
neurons, which carry the information to the brain stem; brain stem centers, which process the information
and coordinate an appropriate response; and efferent neurons, which direct changes in the heart and blood
vessels.
Baroreceptors
The baroreceptors are located in the walls of the carotid sinus, where the common carotid artery bifurcates
into the internal and external carotid arteries, and in the aortic arch. The carotid sinus baroreceptors are
responsive to increases or decreases in arterial pressure, whereas the aortic arch baroreceptors are primarily
responsive to increases in arterial pressure.

The baroreceptors are mechanoreceptors, which are sensitive to pressure or stretch. Thus, changes in
arterial pressure cause more or less stretch on the mechanoreceptors, resulting in a change in their membrane
potential. Such a change in membrane potential is a receptor potential, which increases or decreases the
likelihood that action potentials will be fired in the afferent nerves that travel from the baroreceptors to the
brain stem. (If the receptor potential is depolarizing, then action potential frequency increases; if the receptor
potential is hyperpolarizing, then action potential frequency decreases.)
Increases in arterial pressure cause increased stretch on the baroreceptors and increased firing rate in the
afferent nerves. Decreases in arterial pressure cause decreased stretch on the baroreceptors and decreased
firing rate in the afferent nerves.
Although the baroreceptors are sensitive to the absolute level of pressure, they are even more sensitive to
changes in pressure and the rate of change of pressure. The strongest stimulus for the baroreceptors is a
rapid change in arterial pressure!
The sensitivity of the baroreceptors can be altered by disease. For example, in chronic hypertension
(elevated blood pressure), the baroreceptors do not "see" the elevated blood pressure as abnormal. In such
cases, the hypertension will be maintained, rather than corrected, by the baroreceptor reflex. The mechanism
of this defect is either decreased sensitivity of the baroreceptors to increases in arterial pressure or an
increase in the blood pressure set point of the brain stem centers.

Information from the carotid sinus baroreceptors is carried to the brain stem on the carotid sinus nerve,
which joins the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve [CN] IX). Information from the aortic arch
baroreceptors is carried to the brain stem on the vagus nerve (CN X).