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