VAN 211: Veterinary Histology and Embryology (2+2)

NERVES TO STOMACH AND INTESTINE

• The nerve supply is from the autonomic nervous system and consists of non-medullated sympathetic fibres and medullated preganglionic parasympathetic fibres. They reach the intestinal wall through the mesentery and form a myenteric plexus or plexus of Auerbach in the inter-muscular connective tissue, in association with the ganglion cells of the parasympathetic system.
• From the plexus, fine branches are given off to the muscular coat. Fibres form this plexus also pass to the submucosa, where they form a submucosal plexus from which fine branches are distributed to the muscularis mucosae and glands of the mucous membrane.