Enteric Glia (Gut Nerve Helpers)

Your gut's own nerves

Your gut is the long tube that food travels through, from your throat to your intestines. Inside its walls is a whole web of nerve cells. Scientists call it the enteric nervous system. Enteric means "of the gut".

Right next to those gut nerve cells are helper cells called enteric glia. They have a small body and lots of branches, a bit like a star.

Helping the gut nerves

Enteric glia are a lot like the helper cells in your brain. They wrap around the gut nerve cells to support and protect them.

Scientists are still learning about them. They think enteric glia help keep the gut lining strong and help the nerves control the squeezing that moves food along.

Enteric glia quiz