are second in line in importance for blood pressure regulation - baroreceptors are the most important
stimulated by decreased PaO2, increased PaCO2 or increase hydrogen ions (i.e. decrease in BP)
activation of chemoreceptors will:
increase vasomotor centre activity -> vasoconstriction of arterioles -> increase total peripheral resistance and blood pressure
increase cardioexcitatory centre activity -> increase sympathetic activity of pacemaker cells and ventricular muscule mass -> increase heart rate and stroke volume -> increase cardiac output
