Question

What are the general effects of parasympathetic and sympathetic impulses on the organs and accessory organs of the GI tract? What is the enteric nervous system?

Answer 1

Generally, the sympathetic impulses or stimulation results in the inhibition of motor activity and gastrointestinal secretion, and contraction of blood vessels and gastrointestinal sphincters. On the contrary, parasympathetic impulses or stimuli usually stimulate these digestive activities.

One of the chief divisions of the ANS (autonomic nervous system) that contains a mesh-like neuron system that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract is known as the intrinsic nervous system or enteric nervous system (ENS). It is also known as the second brain and is derived from neural crest cells.