Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity01:11

Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity

562
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...
562
Nerve Supply of the GI Tract01:27

Nerve Supply of the GI Tract

1.6K
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...
1.6K
Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health01:05

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

373
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...
373
Neural Regulation01:37

Neural Regulation

39.7K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
39.7K
Functional Divisions of the Nervous System01:23

Functional Divisions of the Nervous System

5.5K
The nervous system, responsible for sensing, integrating, and responding to various stimuli, is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS has two functional divisions: the sensory or afferent division and the motor or efferent division.
The sensory division transmits information from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS. It provides the CNS with knowledge about somatic senses (such as tactile, thermal, pain, and proprioceptive sensations)...
5.5K
Autonomic Nervous System: Overview01:26

Autonomic Nervous System: Overview

4.8K
The human nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS contains nerve cells, clusters of nerve cells, and the sensory receptors that are outside the CNS. The PNS has two types of nerve cells: sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent). Sensory cells send signals to the CNS from receptors, and motor cells carry signals from the CNS to organs, muscles, and...
4.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Microbiome-driven alterations in tryptophan metabolism contribute to behavioral comorbidities in the Muc2 knockout mouse model of chronic colitis.

Gut microbes·2026
Same author

Multiomics insights into the effects of prebiotics on physical function and metabolism in adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis.

Gut microbes·2026
Same author

Short-Chain Fatty Acids Activate Myenteric Neurons and Delay Colonic Motility via Free Fatty Acid Receptors 2 and 3 in the Mouse.

Neurogastroenterology and motility·2026
Same author

The Oral Microbiome in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Shows Differentially Abundant Organisms in Limb Versus Bulbar Onset Disease: A Binational Study.

Journal of clinical neurology (Seoul, Korea)·2026
Same author

Microbial dysbiosis alters serotonin signaling in a postinflammatory murine model of visceral pain.

American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology·2025
Same author

Next-generation enteric neuroscience - fostering the future of the field.

Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology·2025
Same journal

Long-term potentiation in the brain: A synaptic memory mechanism.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same journal

Catecholamine metabolism revisited: From neurochemistry to integrative physiology and pathophysiology.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same journal

THE ORIGINS AND PROGRESSION OF PYLORIC METAPLASIA FOLLOWING GASTRIC MUCOSAL INJURY.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same journal

AKAP signaling: physiological and pathophysiological roles and opportunities for novel therapeutic concepts.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same journal

Mechanisms of transcranial magnetic brain stimulation.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same journal

Esophageal peristalsis in health and disease: mechanistic insights.

Physiological reviews·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

An In-vitro Preparation of Isolated Enteric Neurons and Glia from the Myenteric Plexus of the Adult Mouse
10:34

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

Published on: August 7, 2013

27.4K

The enteric nervous system.

Keith A Sharkey1, Gary M Mawe2

  • 1Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Physiological Reviews
|December 15, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) intricately controls digestion and gut defense by integrating signals from the microbiota, immune system, and epithelium. This review details the ENS

Keywords:
enteric gliaenteric nervous systeminterstitial cells of Cajalmyenteric plexusvagus nerve

More Related Videos

In Situ Ca2+ Imaging of the Enteric Nervous System
11:26

In Situ Ca2+ Imaging of the Enteric Nervous System

Published on: January 29, 2015

17.3K
Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
07:54

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

Published on: April 29, 2015

11.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 17, 2025

An In-vitro Preparation of Isolated Enteric Neurons and Glia from the Myenteric Plexus of the Adult Mouse
10:34

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

Published on: August 7, 2013

27.4K
In Situ Ca2+ Imaging of the Enteric Nervous System
11:26

In Situ Ca2+ Imaging of the Enteric Nervous System

Published on: January 29, 2015

17.3K
Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
07:54

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

Published on: April 29, 2015

11.5K

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology and Neuroscience
  • Gut-Brain Axis Research
  • Digestive Physiology

Background:

  • The gastrointestinal tract is a complex system with diverse structures and signaling molecules.
  • It operates in a hostile luminal environment with a large microbiota.
  • The enteric nervous system (ENS) is central to regulating digestive and defensive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the intrinsic neural control of gut functions by the ENS.
  • To explore the interactions between the ENS, immune system, microbiota, and epithelium.
  • To highlight recent advancements in understanding ENS physiology and pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on enteric neurobiology and physiology.
  • Analysis of molecular architecture, motor circuits, and glial cell functions within the ENS.
  • Exploration of signal transduction, barrier function regulation, and immune control mediated by the ENS.

Main Results:

  • The ENS comprises a complex network of neurons and glia essential for gut homeostasis.
  • Enteric neurons and glia regulate intestinal barrier function and local immune responses.
  • The gut microbiota significantly influences ENS structure and function.

Conclusions:

  • The ENS integrates diverse signals to precisely control digestion and maintain intestinal homeostasis.
  • Recent discoveries have significantly advanced our understanding of enteric neurobiology.
  • The interplay between the ENS, microbiota, immune system, and epithelium is crucial for gut health.