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Nerve Supply of the GI Tract

Nerve Supply of the GI Tract

The neuronal supply to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is essential for regulating various functions, including digestion, absorption, and movement of food. This intricate network of nerves is known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), often referred to as the "second brain" of the body.
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of the GI tract...

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

The gastrointestinal tract, responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, is safeguarded by the intestinal barrier, which consists of secretory, physical, and immune components. At the forefront is the secretory barrier, composed of essential elements such as mucus, gut microbiota, and defense proteins. They collaborate to break down food particles, facilitate nutrient absorption, and maintain optimal gut health. These secretory components ensure the smooth functioning of the...

Spinal Nerves: Plexus I

Spinal Nerves: Plexus I

Nerve plexuses are networks of interlacing nerves that serve as communication hubs to distribute and organize nerve action across various body regions. The nerve plexuses are organized into the cervical plexus located in the neck region, brachial plexus in the shoulder area, lumbar plexus found in the lower back, sacral plexus situated in the pelvis, and coccygeal plexus located in the coccygeal region.
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...

Spinal Nerves: Plexus II

Spinal Nerves: Plexus II

The plexuses of the lower body include the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses, which innervate the abdomen, pelvis, legs, and coccygeal region. These plexuses control the transmission of sensory information and coordinate motor functions of the lower body.
The Lumbar Plexus
The lumbar plexus is situated within the lumbar region of the back and is primarily formed by the first four lumbar spinal nerves (L1 to L4). This plexus extends its branches into several nerves, including the...

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a pivotal role in regulating gastrointestinal or GI motor activity. This complex network of nerves, deeply embedded within the gut wall, responds to changes in the gut environment and receives input from both the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system. By doing so, the ENS operates various programs tailored to the body's nutritional status and needs.
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a program...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

Published on: April 29, 2015

Postnatal changes in enteric plexus axonal thickness.

Thambipillai Sri Paran¹, Udo Rolle, Prem Puri

¹Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin 12, Ireland.

Pediatric Surgery International

|October 29, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The enteric nervous system

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Methods for In Vivo Biomechanical Testing on Brachial Plexus in Neonatal Piglets

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Published on: December 19, 2019

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Developmental Biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Gut motility in newborns is not always predictable by age.
The enteric nervous system (ENS) may be immature at birth.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the maturation of the enteric myenteric plexus in pigs.
To test the hypothesis that the enteric plexus is immature at birth.

Main Methods:

Whole-mount preparations of the pig distal large bowel myenteric plexus were analyzed.
Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) histochemistry was used for staining.
Axonal diameter, interganglionic distance, and neuronal size were measured using light microscopy and Image J software.

Main Results:

Significant increases in axonal diameter and interganglionic distance were observed with age in the rectal myenteric plexus.
Neuronal cell and nucleus size increased with age, but not significantly.

Conclusions:

Axonal thickness in the enteric myenteric plexus shows significant development in the first 12 weeks of life in piglets.
Rectal biopsy axonal thickness may aid in diagnosing functional intestinal obstruction in infants.