This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Aortic body (anatomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The aortic bodies are peripheral chemoreceptors sited around the inferior surface of the aortic arch. They are small masses of glomus tissue around 3-4mm in diameter - smaller than the carotid bodies. They have a very high rate of metabolism which is mirrored by a high blood transit rate through them.

There are two types of cell within the aortic bodies:

  • type I cell: main sensory cells for stimulation by hypoxia, acidaemia
  • type II cell: glial supporting cells

The aortic bodies are supplied by fibres of the vagus nerve:

  • efferent: modulate sensitivity to hypoxia by regulating blood flow through the bodies
  • afferent: signal extent of chemical changes within the blood

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.