Peripheral chemoreceptors are located in which structures?

Peripheral chemoreceptors play a critical role in the regulation of respiration by detecting changes in the blood levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH. These specialized receptors are primarily located in the aortic arch and the carotid bodies.

The carotid bodies are situated at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery and are highly sensitive to variations in arterial blood oxygen levels. The aortic bodies, found in the aortic arch, share a similar function, monitoring blood chemistry. When oxygen levels drop, these chemoreceptors send signals to the brain to increase breathing rate and depth, thereby helping to restore normal oxygen saturation levels in the body.

This anatomical and functional distribution highlights the importance of peripheral chemoreceptors in maintaining homeostasis and responding to metabolic demands. In contrast, the other choices either describe structures integral to the central nervous system or areas involved in respiration but do not contain the peripheral chemoreceptors involved in the detection of blood gases.