The submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus, plexus of the submucosa, plexus submucosus) lies in the submucosa of the intestinal wall. The nerves of this plexus are derived from the myenteric plexus which itself is derived from the plexuses of parasympathetic nerves around the superior mesenteric artery. Branches from the myenteric plexus perforate the circular muscle fibers to form the submucosal plexus. Ganglia from the plexus extend into the muscularis mucosae and also extend into the mucous membrane.

Submucosal plexus
The plexus of the submucosa from the rabbit. X 50.
Details
Identifiers
Latinplexus nervosus submucosus, plexus submucosus,
plexus Meissneri
MeSHD013368
TA98A14.3.03.042
TA26728
FMA63252
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

They contain Dogiel cells.[1] The nerve bundles of the submucosal plexus are finer than those of the myenteric plexus. Its function is to innervate cells in the epithelial layer and the smooth muscle of the muscularis mucosae.

14% of submucosal plexus neurons are sensory neurons – Dogiel type II, also known as enteric primary afferent neurons or intrinsic primary afferent neurons.[2]

History

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Meissners' plexus was described by German professor Georg Meissner.[3]

References

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  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1177 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ Stach, W (1979). "Die differenzierte Gefäßversorgung der dogielschen Zelltypen und die bevorzugte Vaskularisation der Typ I/2-Zellen in den Ganglien des Plexus myentericus (Auerbach) des Schweins" [Differentiated vascularization of Dogiel's cell types and the preferred vascularization of type I/2 cells within plexus myentericus (Auerbach) ganglia of the pig]. Anatomischer Anzeiger (in German). 145 (5): 464–73. PMID 507375.
  2. ^ Costa, M (2000). "Anatomy and physiology of the enteric nervous system". Gut. 47 (95004): iv15–9, discussion iv26. doi:10.1136/gut.47.suppl_4.iv15. PMC 1766806. PMID 11076898.
  3. ^ Haubrich, William S. (February 1999). "Meissner of Meissner's plexus". Gastroenterology. 116 (2): 247. doi:10.1016/S0016-5085(99)70166-6.
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