Neuropathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders

Figure 1 The heuristic model for the enteric nervous system is the same as for the central nervous system. Sensory neurons, interneurons and motor neurons are synaptically interconnected to form the neural networks of the ENS. Like the central nervous system, sensory neurons, interneurons and motor neurons are connected by chemical synapses for directional flow of information from sensory neurons to interneuronal integrative networks to motor neurons to effector systems. The ENS organizes and coordinates the activity of each effector system into meaningful behavior of the whole organ. Bidirectional communication occurs between the ENS and the central nervous system.