carotid sinus

noun

, Anatomy.

1. specialized nerve end organs producing a slight dilatation of the carotid artery where it branches into the external and internal carotid arteries, responding to changes in blood pressure by mediating changes in the heartbeat rate.

carotid sinus

1. A dilated region that is located at the point of bifurcation of the carotid artery and contains pressure receptors (called baroreceptors), which upon stimulation cause slowing of the heart rate, vasodilation, and a decrease in blood pressure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of carotid sinus¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

And something called carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

From BBC

Less data was available to support consensus recommendations on some the less common syndromes with pacing indications and most did not rise to the level of Class I. – In carotid sinus hypersensitivity, both DDD and VVI pacing get Class IIa recommendations. 

From Forbes

Muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, antispasmodics, antipsychotics, gastrointestinal stimulants, antidepressants and massage of the carotid sinus in the neck.

From Seattle Times

At the A.M.A. convention in San Francisco, Dr. Aydin Bilgutay of the University of Minnesota showed a baropacer which picks up pulses of current from two electrodes implanted in the heart and uses those pulses to control electrical signals sent to an electrode wrapped around the carotid sinus.

From Time Magazine Archive