Функциональная морфология сонного гломуса человека

The paraganglionic system is one of the least studied systems of the body, closely interacting with the autonomous nervous system. The carotid body is an essential part of the paraganglionic system. The carotid body is a small organ located in the area of the common carotid artery bifurcation. The review summarizes more than 250-year history of studying the morphology and physiology of carotid body, considers its anatomical, histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features. Being a peripheral chemoreceptor, the carotid body responds to the changes in pH-blood, partial pressure of arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide. The organ affects the functions of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems by complex reflexes, regulating the frequency and depth of breathing, the tone of the smooth muscles of the bronchi, the frequency and strength of heart contractions. Due to the complex interactions between the paraganglionic and autonomic nervous systems, this organ can be targeted in the treatment of diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and arterial hypertension. Despite significant successes in the study of the organ, there are still contradictions and difficulties faced by scientists and practitioners. So, there is still no final answer about the effect of carotid body on the motility of the bronchi and arterial vessels. It makes difficult to create the theory of its role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma and hypertension. The synaptogenesis and proliferation of carotid body cells have not been studied in normal and pathological conditions. There is practically no data on the embryonic development of the human carotid body. Further research should be aimed to create the theories that will describe the work of this organ in the whole organism and will not be limited to description of the group of molecules secreted by it in response to certain stimuli. Key words: carotid body, paraganglionic system, chemoreception, bronchial asthma, COPD, arterial hypertension