One of the pressure-sensitive nerve endings in the walls of the atria of the heart, the vena cava, the aortic arch and the carotid sinus. They stimulate central reflex mechanisms that allow pysiological adjustment and adaptation to changes in blood pressure via vasodilatation or vascoconstriction.

Gr. 'weight' receptor. Refers to the blood pressure receptors of the carotid sinus and aortic arch ( Ch. 21).

Baroreceptors (or baroceptors) in the human body detect the pressure of blood flowing through them, and can send messages to the central nervous system to increase or decrease total peripheral resistance and cardiac output.