The stomach receives innervation from the autonomic nervous system via the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve fibers.

Parasympathetic innervation

The parasympathetic innervation of the stomach is provided by both vagal trunks that arise from the left and right vagus nerves (CN X).

The anterior vagal trunk contains fibers mostly from the left vagus nerve. It supplies the largest part of the anterior surface and the pylorus.
The posterior vagal trunk is larger, and it is composed of fibers from the right vagus nerve. It innervates the remaining anterior gastric surface, as well as the entire posterior surface.

The parasympathetic nerve fibers are responsible for inducing gastric secretion and motility, as well as providing relaxation of the pyloric sphincter during movement of the chyme. The vagus nerves also carry fibers responsible for sensations such as pain, fullness, and nausea.

Sympathetic innervation

The sympathetic innervation is provided by the celiac plexus via the greater splanchnic nerves that originate from the fifth or sixth to ninth thoracic spinal nerves (T5/T6 - T9).

The sympathetic nervous system has effects opposite to those of the parasympathetic system - it inhibits secretion and gastric motility and provides constriction of the pyloric sphincter.

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Innervation of stomach