Arterial baroreceptors are located in the
carotid sinus (at the bifurcation of
common carotid artery into
external and
internal carotids) and in the
aortic arch. The baroreceptors can identify the changes in both the average blood pressure or the rate of change in pressure with each arterial pulse. Action potentials triggered in the baroreceptor ending are then directly conducted to the brainstem where central terminations (synapses) transmit this information to neurons within the
solitary nucleus which lies in the medulla. Reflex responses from such baroreceptor activity can trigger increases or decreases in the heart rate. Arterial baroreceptor sensory endings are simple, splayed nerve endings that lie in the
tunica adventitia of the artery. An increase in the mean arterial pressure increases
depolarization of these sensory endings, which results in
action potentials. These action potentials are conducted to the solitary nucleus in the central nervous system by
axons and have a reflex effect on the cardiovascular system through
autonomic neurons.
Hormone secretions that target the heart and blood vessels are affected by the stimulation of baroreceptors. At normal resting blood pressures, baroreceptors discharge with each heart beat. If blood pressure falls, such as on
orthostatic hypotension or in
hypovolaemic shock, baroreceptor firing rate decreases and baroreceptor reflexes act to help restore blood pressure by increasing heart rate. Signals from the carotid baroreceptors are sent via the
glossopharyngeal nerve (
cranial nerve IX). Signals from the aortic baroreceptors travel through the
vagus nerve (
cranial nerve X). Carotid sinus baroreceptors are responsive to both increases or decreases in arterial pressure, while aortic arch baroreceptors are only responsive to increases in arterial pressure. Electrical stimulation of baroreceptors has been found to activate the
baroreflex, reducing sympathetic tone throughout the body and thereby reducing blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension. ==Low-pressure baroreceptors==