Test Your Knowledge on the Complex Neural Control of the Gastrointestinal Tract

• The enteric nervous system can function independently of extrinsic nerves
• Parasympathetic and sympathetic systems can enhance or inhibit gastrointestinal functions
• Sensory nerves originate in gastrointestinal epithelium and gut wall and send afferent fibers to enteric system, prevertebral ganglia, spinal cord, and vagus nerves
• Sensory nerves can elicit local reflexes within the gut wall and other reflexes relayed from ganglia or basal regions of the brain
• Each functional class of GIT afferents has distinct neurochemistry
• Plasticity in inflammatory processes can lead to peripheral and central sensitization
• Prevertebral ganglia receive afferent fibers from sensory nerves in the gastrointestinal epithelium and gut wall
• Sensory nerves in the vagus nerves can reach the brain stem
• Spinal nociception is also involved in the neural control of gastrointestinal tract
• Gastrointestinal extrinsic afferent pathways play a role in the neural control of gastrointestinal tract.

Take this quiz on the neural control of the gastrointestinal tract to test your knowledge on how the enteric nervous system functions independently, how the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems affect gastrointestinal functions, and how sensory nerves play a role in local reflexes within the gut wall and reflexes relayed from ganglia or basal regions of the brain. This quiz will also cover the distinct neurochemistry of each functional class of GIT afferents, the plasticity in inflammatory processes that can lead to sensitization