carotid body
Arterial oxygen sensor
The carotid body is a small cluster of cells located near the fork of the carotid artery in the neck.
It functions as a chemoreceptor, monitoring oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood and helping regulate breathing.
When blood oxygen drops or carbon dioxide rises, the carotid body signals the brain to adjust respiration.
Though tiny, it plays a critical role in maintaining the body's respiratory response to changing conditions.
- chemoreceptorSensory unit detecting chemicals
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- oxygen levelsConcentration of breathable gas
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- neckHead-body junction
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- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- body sensorschemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, baroreceptors, proprioceptors, pressure sensors
- chemoreceptorstaste bud, taste buds
- Head VesselsSCA
- endocrine glandsadrenal gland, adrenal glands, adrenals, adrenal, parathyroid glands
- embryonic structuresembryo, fetus, zygote, blastocyst, morula
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