The differing locations of the two bodies ideally position them to take advantage of different information; the carotid bodies, located on one of the main arteries of the neck, monitor partial pressure within arterial vessels while aortic body, located on the aortic arch, monitors oxygen concentration closer to the heart. Each of these bodies is composed of a similar collection of cells, and it is the post-transduction signal processing that differentiates their responses. However, little is known about the specifics of either of these signaling mechanisms.
The varying locations of the two bodies optimally place them to capitalize on different information; the carotid bodies, situated on one of the primary arteries in the neck, monitor partial pressure within arterial vessels while the aortic body, located on the aortic arch, monitors oxygen concentration closer to the heart. Each of these bodies is composed of a similar ensemble of cells, and it is the post-transduction signal processing that distinguishes their responses. However, there is limited knowledge about the specifics of either of these signaling mechanisms.