Modeling the carotid sinus baroreceptor.

A mathematical model that describes the relationship between sinus pressure and nerve discharge frequency of the carotid sinus baroreceptor is presented. It is partly based upon the single-fiber data obtained by Clarke from the sinus nerve of a dog. The model takes into account what is currently known about the physiology of the baroreceptor. It consists of two nonlinear ordinary differential equations and eight free parameters. With one set of values for these eight parameters, the model reproduces well the experimental results reported by Clarke for positive ramp pressure inputs. Only three parameters needed to be adjusted in order to fit the dynamic data. The remaining five were obtained from static and steady-state data.