how many brain do you have ?if you say you have one brain, you are right. Yet, there are other nervous systems in your body which is the enteric nervous system and It is located in your abdomen. This enteric nervous system is also referred to as brain in the gut because of its capability to function in the absence of the central nervous system.
What is enteric nervous system?
Enteric nervous system (ENS) may be defined as the system of neurons and their supporting cells (glia) that is found within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, including the pancreas and gall bladder.
The enteric nervous system (ENS) controls or regulates vital gastrointestinal functions, including motility, secretion, local immunity, and inflammation, and represents the largest collection of autonomous neurons outside of the brain. It takes an enormous amount of coordination and effort for the body to transform food into fuel.
In humans, it is made up of an estimated 200 to 600 million neurons. This complex network of neurons is built into the digestive system.
According to the british physiologist John Newport langley states that ENS is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, defined as sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric. However, the CNS is able to regulate, but not entirely control all the GI function.
The central nervous system and enteric nervous system have some functional and chemical similarities which are :
The ENS contains a number of neurons similar to those found in the spinal cord.
ENS express all neurotransmitters so far known in CNS (more than 30 neurotransmitters).
These include classical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (Ach), noradrenaline, serotonin, GABA and glutamate, but a great number of other neurotransmitter and hormones also participate in the regulation of functions in the GI tract.
The ENS is a promoting integration neural network including afferent neurons, interneurons, and efferent neurons.
The enteric glial cells are remarkably like astrocytes in structure and biochemistry and a diffusion barrier around the capillaries surrounding ganglia, similar to the cerebral blood-brain barrier.
Enteric nervous system serves as a chemical workshop because according to professor Gary Mawe aptly describes the digestive system as a chemical workshop. Enteric nervous system enlist the right digestive enzymes to break the food down into particles that the body can absorb and plays a vital role in monitoring the acidity in the abdomen.
Enteric nervous system also plays a role in the regulation of hormone that tells the brain what your abdomen should take in.
Conclusion
The enteric nervous system is increasingly recognized as having a central role in the physiologic and pathophysiologic features of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite recent progress, little is known about the details of the neural circuitry and the neurotransmitters involved. Enteric nervous system is not really a brain. It cannot help you to compose a song or balance your balance. Still, this marvelous system continues to amaze scientists for its complexity.
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