Gut is a special sense organ similar to other special senses

Abstract

Gastrointestinal tract(GIT) and Central Nervous system(CNS) are governed by neural regulation(Long and short neural reflexes in GI tract),which is surprisingly complex. In GI tract, the functions of gut are entirely mediated by Enteric nervous system(ENS).But some of the GI functions are highly dependent on extrinsic system(Autonomic nervous system), so ENS communicate on both sides i.e. CNS and gut functions. When a meal is in the different regions of the GI tract, sensory mechanism detect the presence of nutrients, mount physiological or pathological responses(undigested) responses in that region of the tract as well as in more distal region of the gut. These rsponses are mediated by neural and endocrine pathways. The neural pathway is more important because any pathological disturbances in the gut are sensed by the brain immediately and control gut functions according to the physiological response. The swallowing mechanism, gastric emptying and pancreatic secreation, all these gut functions are directly controlled by the brain, without it gut physiology is not maintained. There is considerable cross talk between gut and brain due to some hormones like(CCK, SST etc.) that are present in both part of brain and gut. The regulation of food intake is governed by hormones like Neuropeptides Y(NPY) and Ghrelin which are functional part of both the hypothalamus and the gut. The mechanism of gut is also influenced by emotions and thoughts. So the ENS is the little brain influencing the brain. The availability of functional brain imaging technique has opened up a new exciting concept and allowed to study the role of the CNS to control human gut function in health and disease. The aim of this article is to acquaint this statement by that