Baroreseptorirefleksi

Baroreseptorirefleksi is a physiological mechanism that helps regulate blood pressure. It involves specialized sensory receptors called baroreceptors, located primarily in the walls of the carotid arteries and the aorta. These baroreceptors are sensitive to changes in blood pressure.

When blood pressure rises, the baroreceptors are stretched, and this stretching increases their firing rate. This increased nerve activity is transmitted to the brainstem, specifically to the cardiovascular centers. In response, the brainstem signals the heart to slow down and the blood vessels to dilate, which collectively lowers blood pressure.

Conversely, when blood pressure falls, the baroreceptors are less stretched, and their firing rate decreases. The brainstem then signals the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure. This reflex is a rapid and short-term adjustment system that helps maintain blood pressure within a relatively stable range, crucial for adequate blood flow to organs like the brain. It acts as a buffer against sudden fluctuations in pressure that can occur with changes in posture or activity.