The enteric nervous system translates chemical signals into ______ which are then sent to the brain.

• A. Digestive enzymes
• B. Hormonal messages
• C. Electrical impulses
• D. Neuronal signals

Answer: (B)

The enteric nervous system translates chemical cues in the gut into neural activity. It detects things like nutrients, pH, and signaling molecules and converts that information into electrical impulses within its network of neurons. Those impulses travel as neuronal signals through visceral nerves to the brain, providing real-time information about the gut’s status and enabling appropriate reflexes and processing. Hormones released by gut cells also affect the brain, but that’s the endocrine route, not the direct neural output from the enteric system. So the best fit is electrical impulses, i.e., neuronal signals.