carotid body

noun

: a small body of vascular tissue that adjoins the carotid sinus, functions as a chemoreceptor sensitive to change in the oxygen content of blood, and mediates reflex changes in respiratory activity

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

carotid body

noun

: a small body of vascular tissue that adjoins the carotid sinus, functions as a chemoreceptor sensitive to change in the oxygen content of blood, and mediates reflex changes in respiratory activity

called also carotid gland, glomus caroticum