What is carotid body, carotid sinus, aortic body and aortic sinus?
Carotid body is located at the point of bifurcation of common carotid artery. It is a chemoreceptor which monitors pCO2, pO2 and pH of blood. Carotid body is involved in cardiovascular and respiratory function. Carotid sinus is a dilatation at the base of internal carotid artery. It is a sensitive site which detects any change in the systemic blood pressure. Carotid sinus contains baroreceptors which monitor blood pressure. You can find your carotid sinus by pressing tips for index and middle fingers on the side of trachea or windpipe. Aortic body is located in the aortic arch. It contains peripheral chemoreceptors to monitor the concentration of oxygen near the heart. Aortic sinus is dilatation of ascending aorta. There are three aortic sinuses; anterior aortic sinus, left and right posterior aortic sinuses. The anterior aortic sinus forms right coronary artery while left posterior aortic sinus gives left coronary artery. Right posterior coronary artery gives off no coronary artery. Other names of aortic sinus are sinus of Valsalva, the sinus of Morgagni, the sinus of Mehta, the sinus of Otto, or Petit's sinus.