Carotid sinus

Carotid sinus

Infobox Anatomy
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = sinus caroticus
GraySubject =
GrayPage =


Caption = Arteries of the neck. The carotid sinus is at the origin of the internal carotid artery.


Caption2 =
Precursor =
System =
Artery =
Vein =
Nerve = branch of glossopharyngeal nerve to carotid sinus
Lymph =
MeshName = Carotid+Sinus
MeshNumber = A07.231.114.186.456
DorlandsPre = s_12
DorlandsSuf = 12738619
In human anatomy, the carotid sinus is a localized dilation of the internal carotid artery at its origin, the common carotid artery bifurcation.

Functions

It contains numerous baroreceptors, which function as a "sampling area" for many homeostatic mechanisms for maintaining blood pressure. The carotid sinus baroreceptors are innervated by the sinus nerve of Hering, which is a branch of IX (glossopharyngeal nerve). The glossopharyngeal nerve synapses in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) located in the medulla of the brainstem. The NTS modulates the activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) neurons in the medulla. These neurons then regulate the autonomic control of the heart and blood vessels. The aortic arch baroreceptors are innervated by the aortic nerve (Nerve of Cyon), which combines with X (vagus nerve) and travels to the NTS.

Disease of the carotid sinus

The carotid sinus often has atherosclerotic plaques because of disturbed hemodynamics (low wall shear stress, flow reversal/recirculation). [Glagov S, Zarins C, Giddens DP, Ku DN. Hemodynamics and atherosclerosis. Insights and perspectives gained from studies of human arteries. biod degradable Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1988 Oct;112(10):1018-31. PMID 3052352] Since these plaques, if large and unstable, predispose to ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks, carotid endarterectomies are frequently done for prophylaxis.

The carotid sinus can be oversensitive to manual stimulation, a condition known as carotid sinus hypersensitivity, carotid sinus syndrome or carotid sinus syncope, in which manual stimulation causes large changes in heart rate and/or blood pressure.

Carotid sinus massage

Massage of the carotid sinus, carotid sinus massage is used to diagnose carotid sinus syncope and is sometimes useful for differentiating supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) from ventricular tachycardia. It, like the valsalva maneuver, is a therapy for SVT. [Lim SH, Anantharaman V, Teo WS, Goh PP, Tan AT. Comparison of treatment of supraventricular tachycardia by Valsalva maneuver and carotid sinus massage. Ann Emerg Med. 1998 Jan;31(1):30-5. PMID 9437338] However, it is less effective than pharmaceutical management of SVT with verapamil or adenosine. [Ballo P, Bernabo D, Faraguti SA. Heart rate is a predictor of success in the treatment of adults with symptomatic paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Eur Heart J. 2004 Aug;25(15):1310-7. PMID 15288158]

Carotid sinus reflex death

Carotid sinus reflex death is a disputed mechanism of death in which manual stimulation of the carotid sinus allegedly causes strong vagus nerve impulses leading to terminal cardiac arrest. Carotid sinus reflex death has been pointed out as a possible cause of death in cases of strangulation and hanging, but such deductions remain controversial. Studies have however suggested that the carotid sinus reflex can be a contributing factor in other mechanisms of death by reducing blood pressure and heart rate, especially in the elderly or in people suffering from carotid sinus hypersensitivity. A carotid massage can also possibly dislodge a thrombus, or some plaque. This could lead to any number of life threatening effects, including, but not limited to pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke. All of these are potentially lethal. [Passig, K. [http://www.datenschlag.org/howto/atem/english/csr.html Carotid sinus reflex death - a theory and its history.] URL last accessed February 28 2006.]

See also

* Carotid body
* Baroreflex

References

External links

*
* (NormanAnatomyFig|livingneck)


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  • carotid sinus syndrome — syncope sometimes associated with convulsive seizures due to overactivity of the carotid sinus reflex (q.v.) when pressure is applied to one or both carotid sinuses. Called also carotid sinus syncope and Charcot Weiss Baker s …   Medical dictionary

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  • carotid sinus — noun : the slight enlargement of the common carotid artery at the point where it divides into external and internal carotid arteries, being richly supplied with sensory nerve endings and playing a major part in the mechanism regulating heart rate …   Useful english dictionary

  • carotid sinus — Anat. specialized nerve end organs producing a slight dilatation of the carotid artery where it branches into the external and internal carotid arteries, responding to changes in blood pressure by mediating changes in the heartbeat rate. [1940… …   Universalium

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  • Branch of glossopharyngeal nerve to carotid sinus — Nerve: Branch of glossopharyngeal nerve to carotid sinus Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches. (Nerve not labeled, but region is visible.) Latin ramus sinus carotici nervi glossopharyngei Gray s …   Wikipedia

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