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Related Concept Videos

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity01:11

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity

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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.
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Nerve Supply of the GI Tract01:27

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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.
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Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health01:05

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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...
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Functions of Smooth Muscles01:23

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Smooth muscles are an important type of muscle tissue that plays a vital role in the involuntary movements of internal organs. For example, they help regulate the movement of food through the gut and the flow of blood through the circulatory system.
Function of visceral smooth muscles
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Gastric Motility01:16

Gastric Motility

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Gastric motility is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of stomach muscles that convert ingested food into chyme, a semi-liquid substance ready for further digestion in the intestines. The process begins with the vagus nerve inducing the relaxation of the smooth muscles in the fundus and body of the stomach, allowing these regions to expand and accommodate up to approximately 1.5 liters of food and liquid.
Peristaltic Waves and Chyme Formation
Upon food entry, the stomach initiates...
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Structure and Organization of Smooth Muscles01:13

Structure and Organization of Smooth Muscles

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Smooth muscle tissue is a type of muscle tissue that can be found lining various vital organs in the human body, including the lungs, blood vessels, digestive tract, and respiratory tract. This type of tissue is responsible for regulating the movements of these organs, playing crucial roles in the functioning of various systems, including the vascular, digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

An In-vitro Preparation of Isolated Enteric Neurons and Glia from the Myenteric Plexus of the Adult Mouse
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An In-vitro Preparation of Isolated Enteric Neurons and Glia from the Myenteric Plexus of the Adult Mouse

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Intestinal smooth muscle is required for patterning the enteric nervous system.

Hannah K Graham1, Ivy Maina1, Allan M Goldstein1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Journal of Anatomy
|January 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Early intestinal smooth muscle development is crucial for patterning the enteric nervous system (ENS). Inhibiting muscle development disrupts ENS patterning, showing muscle influences nerve development in the gut.

Keywords:
developmententeric nervous systemgutneural crestsmooth muscle

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The enteric nervous system (ENS) and intestinal smooth muscle develop concurrently.
  • The precise interplay between ENS and smooth muscle development remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reciprocal influence between ENS and intestinal smooth muscle development.
  • To determine if ENS or smooth muscle development is a prerequisite for the other.

Main Methods:

  • Studied chick embryo mid-gut and hindgut development.
  • Assessed α-smooth muscle actin expression for muscle differentiation.
  • Examined ENS patterning in aganglionic and muscle-inhibited conditions.

Main Results:

  • Mid-gut muscle differentiation follows enteric neural crest-derived cell (ENCC) arrival; hindgut muscle develops before ENCCs.
  • Smooth muscle development in hindguts is independent of the ENS.
  • Inhibition of early smooth muscle development severely disrupts ENS patterning.

Conclusions:

  • Early intestinal smooth muscle differentiation is essential for proper ENS patterning.
  • Smooth muscle plays a critical role in guiding ENS development, particularly in the mid-gut.
  • The ENS does not appear to be required for initial smooth muscle layer formation.