THE FINE-STRUCTURE OF THE SUBMUCOUS PLEXUS OF THE GUINEA-PIG ILEUM .1. THE GANGLIA, NEURONS, SCHWANN-CELLS AND NEUROPIL

Abstract

A fine structural study was made of the ganglia, neurons, Schwann cells and neuropil of the submucous plexus of the guinea-pig ileum. The arrangement of the plexus as seen by light microscopy is briefly described. Submucous ganglia are small, containing an average of eight neurons per ganglion (compared with 43 in myenteric ganglia) and are connected with each other by fine nerve strands. The cell bodies of neurons and Schwann cells and a neuropil consisting of neuronal and Schwann cell processes from the ganglia. No other cell types or blood vessels are found within the ganglia. Ganglia are surrounded by a continuous basal lamina but lack a well-defined connective tissue investment. The gli..