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Previous Volume 334:1106-1115 April 25, 1996 Number 17 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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The enteric nervous system is a collection of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract¹ that constitutes the "brain of the gut" and can function independently of the central nervous system.² This system controls the motility,^3,4 exocrine and endocrine secretions,⁵ and microcirculation⁶ of the gastrointestinal tract; it is also involved in regulating immune and inflammatory processes.⁷ In the past decade, major advances in the understanding of the enteric nervous system have led to a greater appreciation of its importance in clinical medicine. In this review we highlight some of these advances.

Development of the Enteric Nervous System

The enteric nervous system is primarily derived from cells of the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Structure of the Enteric Nervous System

Chemical Nature of Neurons

Interactions between the Central and the Enteric Nervous Systems

Motor Input from the Central Nervous System

Sensory Output to the Central Nervous System

Targets of Enteric Neurons

Disorders of the Enteric Nervous System

Motility Disorders

            Achalasia

            Gastric Stasis and Outlet Obstruction

            Acute Intestinal Ileus and Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction

            Megacolon

            Generalized Disorders of Motility

Diarrhea Due to Noninvasive Secretagogues

Inflammatory and Immunologically Mediated Bowel Diseases

The Future

Source Information

From the Brockton–West Roxbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Harvard Medical School — both in Boston.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Goyal at the Research and Development Service, West Roxbury VA Medical Center, 1400 VFW Pky., West Roxbury, MA 02132.

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