Enteroceptor (Noun)
Meaning
Any receptor that responds to stimuli inside the body.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The stretch receptors in the walls of the digestive tract are examples of enteroceptors that provide information about the fullness or emptiness of the gut.
- In humans, the chemoreceptors in the carotid body are enteroceptors that detect changes in the chemical composition of the blood.
- The mechanoreceptors in the bladder wall are enteroceptors that respond to changes in bladder pressure and help regulate the micturition reflex.
- Enteroceptors in the stomach lining release hormones and neurotransmitters that help to regulate digestion and appetite.
- Pulmonary enteroceptors in the lungs respond to the inflation and deflation of the lungs during breathing and help to regulate respiratory rate.