Submucous plexus
Encyclopedia
The nerves of the small intestines are derived from the plexuses
of parasympathetic nerves around the superior mesenteric artery
. From this source, they run to the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus
) of nerves and ganglia situated between the circular muscular fibers and the longitudinal muscle fibers of the muscularis externa
. From this a secondary plexus, the plexus of the submucosa (Meissner's plexus, submucous plexus, submucosal plexus, plexus submucosus) is derived, and it is formed by branches that have perforated the circular muscular fibers. This plexus lies in the submucous coat of the intestine; it also contains ganglia from which nerve fibers pass to the muscularis mucosae
and to the mucous membrane.
The nerve bundles of the submucous plexus are finer than those of the myenteric plexus. Its function is to innervate cells in the epithelial layer and the smooth muscle of the (muscularis mucosae
).
Nerve plexus
A nerve plexus is a network of intersecting nerves. Except for the ventral rami of Th2-Th11 nerves, they combine sets of ventral rami of spinal nerves that serve the same area of the body into one large grouped nerve...
of parasympathetic nerves around the superior mesenteric artery
Superior mesenteric artery
In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.-Location...
. From this source, they run to the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus
Auerbach's plexus
A part of the enteric nervous system, Auerbach's plexus , exists between the longitudinal and circular layers of muscularis externa in the gastrointestinal tract and provides motor innervation to both layers of the mucosa, having both parasympathetic and sympathetic input, whereas Meissner's plexus...
) of nerves and ganglia situated between the circular muscular fibers and the longitudinal muscle fibers of the muscularis externa
Muscularis externa
The muscular coat is a region of muscle in many organs in the vertebrate body, adjacent to the submucosa membrane...
. From this a secondary plexus, the plexus of the submucosa (Meissner's plexus, submucous plexus, submucosal plexus, plexus submucosus) is derived, and it is formed by branches that have perforated the circular muscular fibers. This plexus lies in the submucous coat of the intestine; it also contains ganglia from which nerve fibers pass to the muscularis mucosae
Muscularis mucosae
The lamina muscularis mucosae is the thin layer of smooth muscle found in most parts of the gastrointestinal tract, located outside the lamina propria mucosae and separating it from the submucosa....
and to the mucous membrane.
The nerve bundles of the submucous plexus are finer than those of the myenteric plexus. Its function is to innervate cells in the epithelial layer and the smooth muscle of the (muscularis mucosae
Muscularis mucosae
The lamina muscularis mucosae is the thin layer of smooth muscle found in most parts of the gastrointestinal tract, located outside the lamina propria mucosae and separating it from the submucosa....
).