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Aortic body (anatomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The aortic bodies are peripheral chemoreceptors sited around the inferior surface of the aortic arch. They are small masses of glomus tissue around 3-4mm in diameter - smaller than the carotid bodies. They have a very high rate of metabolism which is mirrored by a high blood transit rate through them.

There are two types of cell within the aortic bodies:

  • type I cell: main sensory cells for stimulation by hypoxia, acidaemia
  • type II cell: glial supporting cells

The aortic bodies are supplied by fibres of the vagus nerve:

  • efferent: modulate sensitivity to hypoxia by regulating blood flow through the bodies
  • afferent: signal extent of chemical changes within the blood

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