Esophageal myenteric plexus: nerve cell morphology

The myenteric plexus of the last 12 cm. of the human esophaguys have been studied using silver impregnated stretch preparations. Only type 1 nerve cells (Dogiel's type 1) vere observed. They have a proeminent axon and numerous dendrites which may be short and thick or more longer and thin. The axons may be seen passing down to join the fiber tracts of the plexus or ending on other nerve cell in the same ganglion and possibly pasing down to attach to the muscle cells. The dendrites of one neurone have been seen intimatelyu mingled with that of another neurone. Many neurones have been seen associated to pericellular endidngs which were interpreted as endings of vagus nerve fibers. The functional significance of the findings is discussed