Baroreflex

Baroreflex (baroreceptor reflex) is a mechanism for the acute regulation of blood pressure. It is an autonomic reflex, mediated by baroreceptors and the autonomic nervous system.

Mechanism
Baroreceptors are found in the arcus aortae and in the sinus caroticus (aortocarotic receptors). These are mechanoreceptors responding to rapid changes in arterial pressure. There is a depolarization and thus the emergence of an action potential.

Carotid sine receptors are not stimulated at pressures up to 50-60 mmHg, with maximum stimulation occurring at 180 mmHg. In the case of receptors in the arcus aortae, the readings are 30 mmHg higher. An increase in blood pressure will translate into a higher frequency of action potentials.

The pulse-pressure dependency curve is sigmoidal with maximum steepness in an area of about 100 mmHg, making the system most sensitive to pressure changes in this range.

By way of nervus glossopharyngeus (from sinus caroticum) and nervus vagus (from arcus aortae) stimuli reach the vazomotoric center in the brainstem: reticular formation prolonged spinal cord, nucleus tractus solitarii, nucleus ambiguus and area postrema.

The information is integrated in the nucleus tractus solitarii, from there the centre in the caudal ventrolateral spinal cord (CVLM) is activated, which goes on to: Both lead to lower blood pressure.
 * inhibits the rostral ventrolateral spinal cord (RVLM), resulting in inhibition of the sympathetic agent → vasodilatation, reduction of contractility;
 * excites the nucleus ambiguus, the nucleus of the vagus nerve. The effect of parasympathy on SA slows the heart rate.

Similarly, when blood pressure is lowered, sympathetic inhibition occurs while inhibiting parasympathy and thus vasoconstriction, increasing heart rate and contractility, which increases blood pressure again.

The importance of baroreflex
The baroreflexive mechanism compensates for short-term pressure changes (serves as a buffer system). This keeps blood pressure in the mid-range in most common situations. If the baroreception reaction is not functional, the volatility increases by up to three times.

Hypertension
As a result of prolonged hypertension, reversible baroreceptor remodelling occurs, which in turn maintains increased blood pressure. Such adjustment (reseting) occurs within one to two days. It is caused by a reduction in the number of pulses from the baroreceptors after a few minutes, even though the pressure is not adjusted. Related to this is the fact that baroreceptors respond primarily to changes in blood pressure. The response to rapidly increasing blood pressure is significantly greater than if the pressure is at such a high level in the long term.

Related articles

 * Blood pressure
 * Regulation of blood pressure