Editing Myenteric plexus (section)

==Clinical significance==
[[Hirschsprung's disease]] is a congenital disorder of the colon in which nerve cells of the myenteric plexus in its walls, also known as ganglion cells, are absent. Hirschsprung's disease is a form of functional low bowel obstruction due to failure of caudal migration of [[neuroblast]]s within developing bowel – this results in an absence of parasympathetic intrinsic ganglion cells in both Auerbach's and Meissner's plexuses. The distal large
bowel from the point of neuronal arrest to the anus is continuously aganglionic. It is a rare disorder (1:5000), with prevalence among males being four times that of females.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s00383-009-2402-2 |pmid=19521704 |title=Genetic basis of Hirschsprung's disease |journal=Pediatric Surgery International |volume=25 |issue=7 |pages=543–58 |year=2009 |last1=Tam |first1=Paul K. H. |last2=Garcia-Barceló |first2=Mercè |s2cid=27343466 }}</ref>

[[Achalasia]] is a motor disorder of the esophagus characterized by decrease in ganglion cell density in the myenteric plexus. The cause of the lesion is unknown.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=8747084 |year=1995 |last1=Storch |first1=W. B. |title=Autoantibodies to Auerbach's plexus in achalasia |journal=Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France) |volume=41 |issue=8 |pages=1033–8 |last2=Eckardt |first2=V. F. |last3=Wienbeck |first3=M |last4=Eberl |first4=T |last5=Auer |first5=P. G. |last6=Hecker |first6=A |last7=Junginger |first7=T |last8=Bosseckert |first8=H }}</ref> 

Myenteric plexi destruction has been found to be secondary to Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection sequelae). Destruction occurs in the esophagus, intestines, and ureters. This denervation can lead to secondary achalasia (lower esophageal sphincter will not open; loss of inhibitory neurons), megacolon, and megaureter, respectively.

===Role in CNS disorders===
Because the ENS is known as the "brain of the gut", due to its similarities with the CNS, researchers have been using colonic biopsies of Parkinson's patients to help better understand and manage [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1212/WNL.0b013e31824bd195 |pmid=22371415 |title=Parkinson Disease: The Enteric Nervous System Spills its Guts |journal=Neurology |volume=78 |issue=9 |pages=683; author reply 683 |year=2012 |last1=Shprecher |first1=D. R. |last2=Derkinderen |first2=P. |doi-access= }}</ref> PD patients are known to experience severe constipation due to GI tract dysfunction years before the onset of motor movement complications, which characterises Parkinson's disease.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0012728 |pmid=20856865 |pmc=2939055 |title=Colonic Biopsies to Assess the Neuropathology of Parkinson's Disease and Its Relationship with Symptoms |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=5 |issue=9 |pages=e12728 |year=2010 |last1=Lebouvier |first1=Thibaud |last2=Neunlist |first2=Michel |last3=Bruley Des Varannes |first3=Stanislas |last4=Coron |first4=Emmanuel |last5=Drouard |first5=Anne |last6=n'Guyen |first6=Jean-Michel |last7=Chaumette |first7=Tanguy |last8=Tasselli |first8=Maddalena |last9=Paillusson |first9=Sébastien |last10=Flamand |first10=Mathurin |last11=Galmiche |first11=Jean-Paul |last12=Damier |first12=Philippe |last13=Derkinderen |first13=Pascal |bibcode=2010PLoSO...512728L |doi-access=free }}</ref>