Peripheral Nervous System: Enteric Nervous System

The enteric nervous system is the intrinsic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is made up of ganglia and the nerves emanating from these neurons. It has the characteristics of the central nervous system in that there are glia, but no Schwann cells or fibroblasts or other connective tissue elements in the ganglia.

#39 Colon, Monkey (H&E, thin plastic section)

Distinguish between the inner region of the epithelial lining and underlying connective tissue from the pink (acidophilic) outer region containing the smooth muscle. The myenteric plexus of Auerbach is located between the two layers of smooth muscle. Locate neuronal cell bodies within the ganglia. What other types of cell would you expect to find in these ganglia?

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