Anatomy, Head and Neck: Carotid Baroreceptors

Baroreceptors, a specialized type of mechanoreceptor, detect pressure and stretch within the blood vessels of the aortic arch and carotid sinus. These unique structures contribute to the regulation of mean arterial pressure by adjusting vascular tone and heart rate in response to physiological stimuli. Baroreceptor activity returns to baseline upon restoration of homeostatic arterial pressure. The receptors form part of the afferent system, transmitting pressure signals via the glossopharyngeal (cranial nerve IX) and vagus (cranial nerve X) nerves to central regulatory centers, specifically the nucleus tractus solitarius in the medulla, involved in blood pressure modulation (see . Neural Pathways of Baroreceptor Signaling). The physiological principles governing baroreceptor function are clinically relevant in the context of carotid massage, carotid occlusion, and the Cushing reflex.