page_title: Enteric nervous system
section_title: Peristalsis
hierarchical_section_title: Enteric nervous system / Function / Peristalsis
caption_attribution_description: An animated image to show Peristalsis
context_page_description: The enteric nervous system or intrinsic nervous system is one of the main divisions of the autonomic nervous system and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. It is capable of acting independently of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, although it may be influenced by them. The ENS is also called the second brain. It is derived from neural crest cells.
  The enteric nervous system is capable of operating independently of the brain and spinal cord, but does rely on innervation from the autonomic nervous system via the vagus nerve and prevertebral ganglia in healthy subjects. However, studies have shown that the system is operable with a severed vagus nerve. The neurons of the enteric nervous system control the motor functions of the system, in addition to the secretion of gastrointestinal enzymes. These neurons communicate through many neurotransmitters similar to the CNS, including acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin. The large presence of serotonin and dopamine in the gut are key areas of research for neurogastroenterologists.
context_section_description: Peristalsis is a series of radially symmetrical contractions and relaxations of muscles which propagate down a muscular tube.  In humans and other mammals, peristalsis is found in the smooth muscles of the digestive tract to propel contents through the digestive system.  The word is derived from New Latin and comes from the Greek peristallein, "to wrap around," from peri-, "around" + stallein, "to place".  Peristalsis was discovered in 1899 by the work of physiologists William Bayliss and Ernest Starling.  Working on the small intestines of dogs, they found that the response of increasing the pressure in the intestine caused the contraction of the muscle wall above the point of stimulation and the relaxation of the muscle wall below the point of stimulation.
caption: A simplified image showing peristalsis