What type of receptors are primarily involved in sympathetic stimulation?

The primary receptors involved in sympathetic stimulation are baroreceptors. These specialized sensory receptors are located primarily in the carotid sinus and aortic arch and play a critical role in the autonomic nervous system's regulation of blood pressure and heart rate.

Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure through the stretch of the vascular walls they reside in. When sympathetic stimulation occurs, it often leads to vasoconstriction and increased heart rate, both of which are responses to elevated blood pressure. The baroreceptors sense these changes and help to modulate the body's response accordingly, enabling the maintenance of homeostasis during sympathetic activation.

Understanding the function of baroreceptors is essential for appreciating how the cardiovascular system responds to various physiological stresses, including exercise or stress, where sympathetic stimulation is actively involved.