What is the cranial nerve that innervates the gastrointestinal tract?

Answer 1

As well as being partly innervated by the same nerves as the rest of the body, the digestive system also has its own dedicated mini system called the enteric nervous system.

More specifically the innervation of the Stomach is by a few main facets:

Parasympathetic Efferents (outflow) via the Vagus nerve which originates in the brianstem

Sensory Afferents (inflow to the central nervous system) via the Vagus

Sympathetic Efferents from the spinal cord

Sesory Efferents via the spinal cord

To elaboarte on each of these; the Vagal impulses mediate what you could call the 'rest and digest' side of physiological function and increase gastric secretions and motility. On the other hand the parasympathetic efferents do the reverse (Parasympathetic activity via Muscarinic Receptors and Sympathetic Via Adrenergic).

The spinal nerves that particularly supply the (Gastric Plexus) Stomach originate from the Coeliac Plexus and are constituted by the Greater Splanchnic Ganglion and Lesser Splanchnic Ganglion.

These nerves originate from T5-T9 (Greater = T5-9, Lesser = T9-10)

The enteric nervous system refers to intrinsic innervation of the GIT via ganglia just below the mucosa and between the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle. The sensory role of the submucosal plexus is to control glandular secretion whilst the myenteric plexus senses stretch and contraction of the smooth muscle. Increases in stretch immediately increase secretion via reflex integration of the sumbucosal and myenteric plexi.

Answer 2

Vagus Nerve- Sensory functions are: Taste, sensations of hunger, fullness and gastrointestinal discomfort. Motor functions are: swallowing, speech, deceleration of heart, bronchoconstriction, gastrointestinal secretion and motility.

Answer 3

The vagal nerve

Answer 4

The Vagus Nerve