The ENS is a unique part of the nervous system
•Mediates behavior
of gut in absence of input from CNS.
–Most neurons not
connected to CNS
•Lacks internal
collagen
•Support from
enteric glia
•Many neurons and
many types of neuron
–Every class of
neurotransmitter found in CNS is also in ENS
–More neurons than
spinal cord
–More neurons than
remainder of PNS
–Greatest
phenotypic diversity in PNS