Meissner's plexus

The submucosal plexus ( Meissner's plexus or after Georg Meissner ) is a 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 in the submucosa, between the mucosa and the muscle layer of the wall of the digestive system. From the plexus there are numerous connections to the myenteric plexus.

The submucosal plexus controls the secretion of the glands of the stomach and intestines primarily independent of the CNS. In addition, movements of the epithelium of the intestine and immunological processes are regulated. However, the enteric nervous system is not completely independent. About the parasympathetic nervous system ( increases ) and sympathetic ( inhibits ) the activity of the plexus and thus the secretion can be influenced.