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An observational anatomical study involving MediCampus Europeo and the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University Bratislava examined the organisation and variability of the nerves supplying the stomach.
The study, entitled “Morphological Peculiarities of the Innervation of the Stomach”, focused on the interaction between the vagus nerves, sympathetic fibres and the enteric nervous system. Its findings highlight the complexity of gastric neuroanatomy and the significant anatomical differences that can occur between individuals.
The research was carried out on 20 unembalmed adult cadavers, including 17 males and 3 females aged between 30 and 86 years. None of the specimens presented macroscopic abdominal pathology.
Following a midline laparotomy, the researchers dissected the main autonomic plexuses, including the coeliac, mesenteric and aortic plexuses. The neural structures were photographed, while selected ganglia were removed and examined histologically using haematoxylin and eosin staining.
The researchers confirmed that the stomach receives innervation from both the vagus nerve and sympathetic fibres arising from the coeliac and mesenteric plexuses.
Branches associated with the splenic plexus were observed supplying the cardia and pylorus, with some fibres extending towards neighbouring organs.
The distribution of the vagus nerves showed considerable variability. In some specimens, the left vagus nerve predominantly supplied the anterior wall of the stomach. In others, both vagus nerves contributed more equally.
Within the gastric wall, vagal fibres formed dense neural networks connected with the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. The researchers also observed connections between gastric nerves and the nerves of the liver, pancreas, kidneys and intestines.
According to the authors, the variability of vagal innervation and the presence of extensive neural connections may help explain referred pain and functional overlap between gastrointestinal organs.
The study also notes that disruption of vagal pathways plays a role in conditions such as gastroparesis and diabetic gastroenteropathy.
A detailed understanding of stomach innervation is therefore relevant to the interpretation of gastrointestinal pathophysiology and to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Original title: Morphological Peculiarities of the Innervation of the Stomach
Study design: Observational anatomical study
Sample: 20 unembalmed adult cadavers
Keywords: Stomach innervation, vagus nerve, gastrointestinal neuroanatomy
Funding: The research received no specific grant from public, commercial or not-for-profit funding agencies.
