Autonomic Nervous System: Central Control of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) functions are exerted by several types of effector cells that are controlled by the enteric nervous system and the brain, to adapt the regulation of metabolism and food intake to the behavior of the organism. The brain receives neuronal, hormonal, and nutritive afferent signals from the GIT and acts on the GIT via various functionally specific autonomic pathways originating in the lower brain stem and spinal cord. The reflex arcs in the lower brain stem associated with the GIT are under control of various nuclei in the lower and upper brain stem regions, hypothalamus, and limbic system.