Enteric System

[Michael L Miller]

Dear all,

Today's presentation in lab was great.  Regarding the enteric system, I read the following in Wheater's.  The enteric system consists of post-ganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers, as well as parasympathetic ganglia that lie either (i) between the muscularis externa (known as Auerbach's Plexus) or (ii) within the submucosa (known as Meissner's Plexus).  Aside from controlling secretion, signals from these plexus help coordinate smooth muscle contraction, leading to peristalsis.  The enteric system has its own classification, since like cardiac cells, it has intrinsic electrical activity (i.e., autopacing), and therefore, can continue contraction even in the absence of sympathetic or parasympathetic stimulation.

Best,

Michael L. Miller
Graduate Student, MSTP

Graduate School of Biological Sciences,
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1022
New York, NY 10029-6574
website: http://students.mssm.edu/millem14

e-mail: michael....@mssm.edu