Auerbach's plexus

The myenteric plexus (or Auerbach plexus after Leopold Auerbach, who in 1862 first described it) is part of the enteric nervous system ( intramural nervous system), which in turn is part of the vegetative nervous system. These are clusters of ganglia and of them outgoing nerve fibers between the ring (stratum circulare ) and longitudinal muscle layer (stratum longitudinal ) smooth muscle wall of the digestive system.

The myenteric plexus controls the motility and peristalsis of the esophagus, stomach and intestines primarily independent of the central nervous system. However, can be influenced by the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity of the plexus and thus the motility.