The carotid body is a tiny oval cluster of chemoreceptor cells, about 5 mm across, at the fork of the common carotid artery. It has one of the highest blood flows per weight of any tissue.
| Location | Posterior wall of the carotid bifurcation, in the carotid triangle of the neck |
|---|---|
| Secretes |
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| Nerve Supply | Carotid sinus nerve (glossopharyngeal nerve); Vagus and sympathetic fibres |
| Blood Supply | Branches from the external carotid artery near the bifurcation |
| Venous drainage |
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| Lymphatic drainage |
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Senses falling oxygen, rising carbon dioxide and acidity in arterial blood and stimulates breathing.
It drives the increase in breathing at altitude and during intense exercise. Paragangliomas (carotid body tumours) present as a painless, pulsatile lump that moves sideways but not up and down. Some people with chronic lung disease rely on it to drive breathing.
A usually benign paraganglioma at the carotid fork, more common at high altitude or with inherited SDH gene variants.
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