Peripheral chemoreceptors
Peripheral chemoreceptors are specialized sensory cells that detect changes in the chemical composition of the blood. They are located in the carotid bodies and aortic bodies, which are small clusters of cells found near the major blood vessels of the heart. These chemoreceptors play a crucial role in the body's response to changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels in the blood.
Function[edit | edit source]
Peripheral chemoreceptors are primarily responsible for detecting changes in the levels of oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and the pH of the blood. When these levels change, the chemoreceptors send signals to the brain, which then initiates responses to restore the levels to normal.
The primary function of peripheral chemoreceptors is to monitor the oxygen levels in the blood. When these levels drop, the chemoreceptors send a signal to the brain to increase the rate and depth of breathing. This helps to bring more oxygen into the body and remove excess carbon dioxide.
Peripheral chemoreceptors also play a role in detecting changes in the levels of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood. When the levels of carbon dioxide increase, or the pH decreases (indicating an increase in acidity), the chemoreceptors send a signal to the brain to increase the rate and depth of breathing. This helps to remove excess carbon dioxide from the body and restore the pH to normal.
Location[edit | edit source]
Peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the carotid bodies, which are found at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and in the aortic bodies, which are found near the aortic arch. These locations allow the chemoreceptors to monitor the blood that is being sent to the brain and the rest of the body.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Peripheral chemoreceptors play a crucial role in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Dysfunction of these chemoreceptors can lead to a variety of medical conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, and heart failure. In addition, they are also involved in the body's response to hypoxia and hypercapnia.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Peripheral chemoreceptors Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
