Enteric Nervous System Flashcards
GIT dual roles
-play a role in digestion and defense
>supplies the energy, nutrients, vitamins, fluids, electrolytes for survival
>protect against hostile micro-organisms, toxins, environmental contaminants
Stresses faced by gut
-digestive processes (acids, enzymes, bile acids, food antigens)
-mechanical stretch and strain
Phases of digestion
-cephalic-anticipation of eating
-oral
-gastric
-intestinal
-colonic
CNS vs. ENS
-ENS and CNS are separate
-If CNS cut, ENS will still have some function
Enteric Nervous System
-brain of the gut (collection of neurons)
-control function of muscle layers and sphincters over long distances (esophagus to anus)
-coordinated by inputs from endocrine or paracrine hormones (ex. stressed) which than can pass information on to CNS
Microbiome
-microbiota communicates with gut, which is then passed on to the brain
Two layers of nerve cell bodies in ENS
1.submucosal plexus (Meissner’s plexus)
2.Myenteric plexus (Auerbach’s plexus)
ENS sensory fibers
-extend to enteroendocrine cells lining the lumen of the gut and within the lamina propria, submucosa and muscle layers
Structure of ENS
-system of ganglia (cell bodies) within the gut wall that directly controls the GI system
second brain or mini brain
Cephalic phase of digestion
-anticipation of food (salivation etc.)
-initiated by CNS which interacts with ENS
**this bidirectional communication between CNS and ENS is essential (gut-brain axis) to control intestinal homeostasis
Myenteric plexus
-lies between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers
Submucosal plexus
-found within the connective tissues of the submucosa
>mammals have an inner and outer layer of ganglia
Esophagus and stomach neurons
-mostly found in myenteric plexus
Role of myenteric plexus
-control GI motility by regulating contractility in the longitudinal and circular muscles
-also integrates stimuli into the afferents with the sympathetic (splanchnic) and parasympathetic (vagal) pathways
Role of submucosal plexus
-controls secretory functions, absorption and blood flow
-also assists in longitudinal and circular muscle control
-integrates stimuli into the afferents with the sympathetic (splanchnic) and parasympathetic (vagal) pathways
Signal processing in ENS
1.Intrinsic sensory neurons (IPANS)
2.basic sensory neuron synapsing onto excitatory or inhibitory neuron
3.interneurons
Intrinsic sensory neurons (IPANS, intrinsic primary afferent neurons)
-have chemosensory and mechanosensory properties
-located in both submucosal and myenteric plexus
>only submucosal are sensitive to mechanical stimulation
-can also function as interneurons
Interneurons
-various subtypes, regional differences
-primary transmitter is acetylcholine. Others: 5-HT/serotonin, ATP, tachykinin, nitric oxide, somatostatins
Reflex neuron control components
1.IPANs that project into mucosa and activated by epithelial sensor
2. motor, vasomotor and/or secretory neurons
3.interneurons
Epithelial sensor
-enterochromaffin cells (enteroendocrine cell type) that release 5-HT in response to mechanical or chemical stimuli
>activated by mechanical movement of feces/food moving through GI. Also sensitive to chemo, pathogens, laxatives