Abstract

Neural information from the viscera to the central nervous system (CNS) plays a very important role in health and disease. Afferent neural activity from the gastrointestinal tract signals the CNS but the nature of the stimuli required to activate the visceral afferent neurones is still not well defined. Greater comprehension of the anatomy of visceral afferents and of the underlying mechanisms relating to visceral mechano- and chemoreception is required in order to identify rational therapeutic targets for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases.