Arterial hypertension: the role of the central nervous system. I. The nervous control of blood pressure
Elghozi, J.L.; Miach, P.; Meyer, P.
La Nouvelle Presse Medicale 7(8): 647
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1518 PMID: 347392 Document Number: 131639
Arterial pressure is rapidly and precisely readjusted by various reflexes. They are described from the anatomical and functional level. The most important is the medullary baroreflex. In spite of the complexity of their nervous connections and the numerous mediator substances involved, the cardiac vagal center and the sympathetic vasomotor centers are today better understood. The role of the brain is not purely reflex because it may also respond to biochemical variations (anoxia, circulating angiotensin). Finally, we shall describe the central mechanisms which play a role in situations as orthostatism, physical effort or stress. In relation to stress, we shall discuss the influence of suprabulbar structures on the baroreflexe and this will allow a description of three connected centers at different levels controlling arterial blood pressure via nervous mechanisms (i.e. diencephalic, medullary and spinal centers).