chronic constipation is still considered a functional or idiopathic disorder. however, in recent years there is evidence that its pathopysiological grounds may be actually due to a complex system of abnormalities of the enteric nervous system of these patients. in particular, as reported in this review, the enteric glial cells seem to be constantly involved in constipated patients, suggesting t...

T HE enteric nervous system is a collection of neu-rons in the gastrointestinal tract 1 that constitutes the " brain of the gut " and can function independently of the central nervous system. 2 This system controls the motility, 3,4 exocrine and endocrine secretions, 5 and microcirculation 6 of the gastrointestinal tract; it is also involved in regulating immune and inflammatory processes. 7 In...