Neuromechanism of acupuncture regulating gastrointestinal motility

Figure 2 The enteric nervous system mechanism of acupuncture. Stimulation at ST37 and ST25 had different effects on colonic motility in terms of the effects on excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the enteric nervous system. A: Sympathetic pathway; B: Parasympathetic pathway; 1: Inhibitory neurons; 2: Excitatory neurons; 3: Myenteric intrinsic primary afferent neurons; 4: Submucosal intrinsic primary afferent neurons; 5: Secretomotor/vasodilator neurons; LM: Longitudinal muscle; MP: Myenteric plexus; CM: Circular muscle; (+): Effective, (−): Ineffective[72]; ENS: Enteric nervous system.