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Definition of Carotid body
1. Noun. A chemoreceptor located near the bifurcations of the carotid arteries; monitors oxygen content of the blood and helps control respiration.
Generic synonyms: Chemoreceptor
Medical Definition of Carotid body
1. A small cluster of chemoreceptive and supporting cells located near the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. The carotid body, which is richly supplied with fenestrated capillaries, senses the pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations in the blood and plays a crucial role in their homeostatic control. (12 Dec 1998)