Structure of the glomic arteries

The structure of the arteries which supply blood tp the carotid bodies was examined in five cases in which the weights of the cardiac ventricles were normal and in which hypoxaemia due to emphysema or systemic hypertension were absent. The right glomic arteries were studied by light microscopy, and the left by electron microscopy. A sixth case, also free from myocardial hypertrophy, was used solely for an examination of the common carotid artery, the carotid sinus and the internal carotid artery by light and electron microscopy. The glomic arteries resembled the carotid sinus in being highly elastic with a rich supply of non-myelinated nerve fibres and thus had a structure consistent with having a baroreceptor function.