Abstract

Systemic arterial blood pressure, flow and blood volume are closely regulated by a group of interrelated mechanisms. Perhaps the most important mechanism in the moment-to-moment control of arterial blood pressure is the arterial baroreceptor reflex. This reflex influences blood pressure by modifying a series of cardiovascular parameters: heart rate, cardiac stroke volume and peripheral vascular resistance. The key to understanding how the arterial baroreceptor reflex controls blood pressure is the interrelationship between these parameters.Systemic arterial blood pressure, flow and blood volume are closely regulated by a group of interrelated mechanisms. Perhaps the most important mechanism in the moment-to-moment control of arterial blood pressure is the arterial baroreceptor reflex. This reflex influences blood pressure by modifying a series of cardiovascular parameters: heart rate, cardiac stroke volume and peripheral vascular resistance. The key to understanding how the arterial baroreceptor reflex controls blood pressure is the interrelationship between these parameters.