Myenteric plexus

The myenteric plexus (or <a href="/facts/Leopold_Auerbach/vjC5gzr3">Auerbach</a>'s plexus) provides motor innervation to both layers of the <a href="/facts/Muscular_layer/RMTK24S0">muscular layer</a> of the gut, having both parasympathetic and sympathetic input (although present ganglion cell bodies belong to <a href="/facts/Parasympathetic_nervous_system/eNzCI8Yu">parasympathetic</a> innervation, fibers from sympathetic innervation also reach the plexus), whereas the <a href="/facts/Submucous_plexus/uNvHR2fQ">submucous plexus</a> provides <a href="/facts/Secretomotor/h1VRf1NK">secretomotor</a> innervation to the <a href="/facts/Mucous_membrane/oIw0vyel">mucosa</a> nearest the <a href="/facts/Lumen_(anatomy)/3thJT4Hf">lumen</a> of the gut.
It arises from cells in the <a href="/facts/Vagal_trigone/gKdGDWU7">vagal trigone</a> also known as the nucleus ala cinerea, the parasympathetic nucleus of origin for the tenth cranial nerve (<a href="/facts/Vagus_nerve/cKQR0rLm">vagus nerve</a>), located in the <a href="/facts/Medulla_oblongata/KdSbCCkB">medulla oblongata</a>. The fibers are carried by both the anterior and posterior vagal nerves. The myenteric plexus is the major nerve supply to the <a href="/facts/Gastrointestinal_tract/nK2zwqBS">gastrointestinal tract</a> and controls GI tract <a href="/facts/Motility/Df5BECHL">motility</a>.
According to preclinical studies, 30% of myenteric plexus' neurons are <a href="/facts/Enteric_nervous_system/W6U5L9s5">enteric sensory neurons</a>, thus Auerbach's plexus has also a sensory component.

Myenteric plexus open-in-new

Myenteric plexus