What are baroreceptors sensitive to?

Baroreceptors are specialized sensory nerve endings located primarily in the walls of blood vessels, particularly in the carotid sinus and aortic arch. These receptors are designed to detect changes in blood pressure. When blood pressure rises, baroreceptors are stretched and send signals to the central nervous system to help regulate heart rate and vascular tone, leading to a decrease in blood pressure. Conversely, when blood pressure drops, the reduced stretch results in decreased firing rates, prompting compensatory mechanisms to increase blood pressure.

This critical role in blood pressure regulation makes baroreceptors essential for maintaining homeostasis and responding appropriately to fluctuations in circulatory demand. Other factors such as oxygen and carbon dioxide levels or temperature variations do not directly influence the functioning of baroreceptors, which specifically focus on monitoring the pressure within the arteries to maintain cardiovascular stability.