The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Neuroanatomy of extrinsic afferents supplying the gastrointestinal tract
Abstract
Here we discuss the neuroanatomy of extrinsic gastrointestinal (GI) afferent neurones, the relationship between structure and function and the role of afferents in disease. Three pathways connect the gut to the central nervous system: vagal afferents signal mainly from upper GI regions, pelvic afferents mainly from the colorectal region and splanchnic afferents from throughout. Vagal afferents mediate reflex regulation of gut function and behaviour, operating mainly at physiological levels. There are two major functional classes − tension receptors, responding to muscular contraction and distension, and mucosal receptors. The function of vagal endings correlates well with their anatomy: tracing studies show intramuscular arrays (IMAs) and intraganglionic laminar endings (IGLEs); IGLEs are now known to respond to tension. Functional mucosal receptors correlate with endings traced to the lamina propria. Pelvic afferents serve similar functions to vagal afferents, and additionally mediate both innocuous and noxious sensations. Splanchnic afferents comprise mucosal and stretch‐sensitive afferents with low thresholds in addition to high‐threshold serosal/mesenteric afferents suggesting diverse roles. IGLEs, probably of pelvic origin, have been identified recently in the rectum and respond similarly to gastric vagal IGLEs. Gastrointestinal afferents may be sensitized or inhibited by chemical mediators released from several cell types. Whether functional changes have anatomical correlates is not known, but it is likely that they underlie diseases involving visceral hypersensitivity.
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“Due to the vast variety of receptors expressed on vagal afferents, they are thought to be polymodal, in that they respond to a variety of signals which are mechanical, chemical or hormonal in nature (Berthoud et al., 2004).”
From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Berthoud et al., 2004
In the citing paper
“The ANS conveys physiological conditions in the gut, such as acidity, levels of nutrients, osmolarity and pain, to the brain49.”
From The gut microbiota and the brain–gut–kidney axis in hypertension and chronic kidney disease (2018) · cites this paper as [49]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Berthoud, H. R., Blackshaw, L. A., Brookes, S. J. H., & Grundy, D.
- Affiliations
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US)
- Royal Adelaide Hospital (AU)
- Flinders University (AU)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Berthoud, H. R.
- Venue
- Neurogastroenterology & Motility
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- s1
- Pages
- 28-33
- ISSN
- 1350-1925 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2982
- OpenAlex
- W1972094807
- Cited by
- 274
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 2.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurogastroenterology & Motility (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Keywords
- neuroanatomy, vagal afferents, splanchnic afferents, tension receptors, visceral hypersensitivity, visceral sensation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Digestive System, Humans, Nerve Endings, Neuronal Plasticity, Enteric Nervous System, Visceral Afferents
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