TheEntericNervousSystem(ENS)isacomplexnetworkofneuronsandsupportingcellslocatedwithinthewallsofthegastrointestinaltract.Oftenreferredtoasthe"secondbrain,"theENSoperatesindependentlytoregulatedigestiveprocessessuchasmotility,secretion,andbloodflow.Itcommunicatesbidirectionallywiththecentralnervoussystembutcanfunctionautonomously.Comprisingmillionsofneuronsorganizedintointerconnectedganglia,theENSplaysacrucialroleinmaintainingguthomeostasisandrespondingtolocalstimuli.DysfunctionoftheENSislinkedtogastrointestinaldisorderslikeirritablebowelsyndrome(IBS)andHirschsprung'sdisease.Itsuniquepropertiesmakeitanimportantareaofstudyinneurogastroenterology.
