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Effects of Inflammation on the Innervation of the Colon

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease lead to altered gastrointestinal (GI) function as a consequence of the effects of inflammation on the tissues that comprise the GI tract. Among these tissues are several types of neurons that detect the state of the GI tract, transmit pain, and regulate functions such as motility, secretion, and blood flow. This review article describes the structure and function of the enteric nervous system, which is embedded within the gut wall, the sympathetic motor innervation of the colon and the extrinsic afferent innervation of the colon, and considers the evidence that colitis alters these important sensory and motor systems. These alterations may contribute to the pain and altered bowel habits that accompany IBD.