Corpus: Submucosal plexus

The submucosal plexus is an intramural nerve fibre plexus containing ganglion cells that is part of the enteric nervous system (ENS). It is subdivided into the internal submucosal plexus, the Meissner plexus in the narrower sense, and the external submucosal plexus, which is also known as the Shabadash plexus.

The submucosal plexus is part of the autonomic nervous system. It consists of clusters of ganglion cells and the nerve fibres emanating from them. The submucosal plexus is located in the submucosa, i.e. between the mucous membrane (tunica mucosa) and the muscle layer (tunica muscularis) of the intestinal wall. It is found in almost the entire gastrointestinal tract, e.g. in the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (jejunum, ilium, duodenum) and large intestine (colon, processus vermiformis).

There are numerous neuronal connections from the submucosal plexus to the myenteric plexus (Auerbach plexus).

The submucosal plexus innervates the thin layer of smooth muscle that forms part of the mucosa (lamina muscularis mucosae) and thus controls the fine movements of the intestinal mucosa. Together with the myenteric plexus, it controls peristalsis. Furthermore, the submucosal plexus autonomously controls the secretion of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also involved in the regulation of immunological processes.

The overall activity of the submucosal plexus is influenced by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.