BARORECEPTOR REFLEX

Regulates blood pressure within seconds Life saving reflex Also called baroreflex or sino-aortic reflex

Receptors and stimulus

Baroreceptors in carotid sinus and aortic arch are stimulated when blood pressure rises which ultimately stimulates nucleus tractus solitarious( NTS) via 9th and 10th cranial nerve. Baroreceptors detect change in pressure in blood vessel and chambers of heart. It is classified into 2 categories high pressure- located in ventricle and arterial side of circulation low pressure- located in atria and pulmonary circulation. Increased blood pressure causes distension of carotid sinus and aortic arch while decreased blood pressure decreases receptor stimulation.

Afferent pathway
Hering nerve branch of 9th cranial nerve afferent from carotid sinus Aortic nerve branch of 10th cranial nerve afferent from aortic arch

Centers
Centers for Baroreceptors reflex are medullary cardiovascular center which are of two types1. Vasomotor center 2. Cardioinhibitory center

Efferent Pathway and Effector Organ

Efferent fibers for baroreceptors are 1. Sympathetic fibers
originate from

intermediolateral gray column

spinal cord
controlled by

Vasomotor center

1. Vagus nerve
originate from

Nucleus tractus solitarius

Responses
Depends on 1. Nature of change in blood pressure (increases or decreases) 2. Degree and rate of change in blood pressure.

When blood pressure increases

Increasesd blood pressure

Strech of carotid sinus ( activation of baroreceptors )

Increased discharge in 9th and 10th cranial nerve Stimulation of NTS Activation of vagus nerve Decreased heart beat Inhibition of VMC Decreased myocardial contractility Decreased cardiac output Decreased blood pressure Vasodilation

When blood pressure decreases

Decreased blood pressure

Less strech of carotid sinus ( less activation of baroreceptors )

Decreased discharge in 9th and 10th cranial nerve Less stimulation of NTS Inhibition of vagus nerve Increased heart rate Disinhibition (activation) of VMC stimulation of sypathetic outflow Increased myocardial contractility Inceased cardiac output vasocontriction

Increased blood pressure

Types of response
1. Dynamic or Phasic response Response to change in pulse pressure

2. Static or tonic response Response to change in sustained pressure

Physiological Significance of Baroreceptor Reflex

1. When blood pressure falls baroreceptor reflex operates within few seconds to correct the pressure which is life saving in hypotension and hemorrhage.
Baroreceptors and their reflex pathway constitute a feedback mechanism to stabilize blood pressure over a wide range of fluctuation in pressure. Baroreceptor resetting occurs in chronic hypertension

2.

3.