The anatomic orientation of the gastric smooth muscle layers (longitudinal, circular, and oblique) serves the need to regulate accommodation, dispersion, trituration, and emptying of food. Gastric smooth muscle is innervated by extrinsic nerves that relay information to and from extrinsic ganglia, spinal cord, and central nervous system, and by intrinsic nerves in the gastric wall. This chapter summarizes neurons that control digestive functions, their predominant transmitters and stimulatory or inhibitory actions. The small intestine modulates gastric emptying and plays a pivotal role in regulating gastric and pyloric motor activity. Interruption of vagal innervation of the proximal stomach does not modify emptying of indigestible spheres, whereas distal gastric vagotomy delays their passage into the duodenum. Feedback inhibition of emptying by intestinal factors is crucial to regulating duodenal caloric delivery. The effects of many hormones and neurotransmitters on gastric emptying reflect their effects on gastric motility.