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Related Concept Videos

Nerve Supply of the GI Tract01:27

Nerve Supply of the GI Tract

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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.
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...
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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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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.
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...
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Disorders of the Nervous Tissue01:28

Disorders of the Nervous Tissue

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Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
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Parkinson's disease arises from the...
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction01:17

Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
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Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction01:17

Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction

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Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
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Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

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Enteric Nervous System Striped Patterning and Disease: Unexplored Pathophysiology.

Lori B Dershowitz1, Julia A Kaltschmidt1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|March 13, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Defects in the enteric nervous system (ENS) cause pediatric GI motility disorders. New research suggests ENS neurons form stripes, and altered stripe distribution may explain neuronal density changes in conditions like Hirschsprung

Keywords:
Enteric nervous systemHirschsprung's diseasedevelopmentintestinal pseudo-obstructionpatterningstripes

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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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Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
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Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

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

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Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
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Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice

Published on: February 3, 2016

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The enteric nervous system (ENS) is crucial for gastrointestinal (GI) motility.
  • Developmental defects in the ENS lead to pediatric GI motility disorders, including Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (PIPO), and intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B (INDB).
  • Observed structural alterations in these disorders include decreased (HSCR) or increased (PIPO, INDB) enteric neuron density, but their developmental origins are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of ENS development and pediatric GI motility disorders.
  • To incorporate novel findings on ENS structure, specifically the emerging evidence of enteric neuron patterning into circumferential stripes.
  • To propose how defects in this striped ENS patterning could explain observed structural deficits in pediatric GI motility disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ENS development and pediatric GI motility disorders.
  • Integration of new data demonstrating circumferential stripe patterning of enteric neurons during human and mouse development.
  • Exploration of mechanisms of striped patterning in other biological systems.

Main Results:

  • Emerging evidence indicates enteric neurons are organized into circumferential stripes along the developing intestine.
  • This novel structural organization raises new questions about the pathophysiology of ENS-related motility disorders.
  • Altered neuronal density in HSCR, PIPO, and INDB may reflect variations in the distribution or integrity of these enteric neuronal stripes.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of striped ENS organization offers a new framework for understanding ENS development.
  • Defects in ENS striped patterning are proposed as a potential explanation for structural deficits in pediatric GI motility disorders.
  • Further research into ENS stripe formation and its disruption is warranted to elucidate the pathophysiology of these conditions.