August
What Is the Carotid Sinus?
The carotid sinus is an area located within a major intersection of arteries and nerve points, and each patient should be aware of this tiny hub of activity.
Carotid Sinus Makeup and Location
In short and sweet terms, the carotid sinus is a pathway located around the carotid artery and made up of tissue and nerves. This piece of integral cardiac equipment in your body is located just under the jaw, in the neck area, and it sits on the carotid artery just before it splits into its internal and external arteries.
How This Affects Your Heart
When considering how important this little piece of tissue is to your heart, the last thing you want to do is underestimate its potential. This little spot serves as a receptor at the splitting of the internal and external carotid arteries. It picks up external stimuli in its nerve-bound hub and creates physiological responses to those stimulants. An example of this might be the famous karate move in which someone strikes another human’s neck. When this happens, the person usually loses consciousness. This loss of consciousness is a direct result of that external stimulus. Since the carotid sinus is connected to your heart, this is not a move we recommend.
However, this example serves to get our point across about the value of this artery component. When this area of stimulation is affected, it sends messages to the body. A common message it may send is to slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
The Power of the Human Body
The human body and all of its inner workings, like the delicate carotid sinus, have to work in perfect sync to get you up every day. With every breath you take, know that your body is doing amazing stuff on the inside. We at Brookhaven Heart want to do our best to help you keep doing just that.
Contact our team at 631-654-3278 to schedule a consultation or just get your questions answered on how the the amazing human body works!
