The visceral nervous system of the earthworm: I. Nerves controlling the tone of the alimentary canal

Abstract

Aside from locally mediated reflexes the activity of the gut of L. terrestris is influenced by augmentor and inhibitor fibers from the nerve cord and inhibitor elements from the pharyngeal plexus, all of which are described. Augmentor impulses pass via the median and posterior segmental nerves, the peritoneal body-wall nerves and the ventro-lateral septal region to the gut; inhibitor impulses from the nerve cord traverse the anterior segmental nerves and the median and posterior segmental nerves, the intramuscular body-wall nerves and the dorso-lateral septal region to reach the gut.