Book chapter
Chapter 33 - Baroreceptor Reflexes
Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System, pp.161-165
Elsevier Inc, Third Edition
2012
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-386525-0.00033-0
Abstract
This chapter focuses on baroreceptor reflexes, neural pathways, and effector mechanisms. The cardiopulmonary region is innervated by multiple types of mechanosensitive and chemosensitive sensory nerves that affect autonomic and cardiovascular functions in a variety of ways. Baroreceptors are not directly sensitive to blood pressure (BP), but rather are sensitive to mechanical deformation of the nerve endings during distension of the arterial wall. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) for control of HR is consistently decreased in numerous pathological states including chronic hypertension, coronary artery disease postmyocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, and with aging. The strong inverse relationship between BRS and cardiovascular risk encourages targeting therapy to improve BRS. Baroreflexes may contribute to the benefit of standard antihypertensive therapies. For example, lowering of BP of hypertensive patients by pharmacological or dietary interventions rapidly resets the baroreflex function curve to lower mean arterial BPs. Cholinesterase inhibitors promote increases in cardiovagal tone and BRS by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses and sinoatrial node, and amplify cholinergic signaling in left ventricle.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Chapter 33 - Baroreceptor Reflexes
- Creators
- Mark W. Chapleau
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System, pp.161-165
- Edition
- Third Edition
- DOI
- 10.1016/B978-0-12-386525-0.00033-0
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2012
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Cardiovascular Medicine; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984297613502771
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