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Medical Term:


Pronunciation: kē′mō-rē-sep′tŏr

Definition: Any cell that when activated by a change in its chemical milieu produces a nerve impulse. Such cells can be either 1) “transducer” cells innervated by sensory nerve fibers (the gustatory receptor cells of the taste buds or cells in the carotid body sensitive to changes in the oxygen and carbon dioxide content of the blood), or 2) nerve cells proper, such as the olfactory receptor cells of the olfactory mucosa, and certain cells in the brainstem that are sensitive to changes in the composition of the blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

Synonym(s): chemoceptor