The gastrointestinal system consists of two parts, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and therefore the major digestive accessory glands, which include the liver and pancreas. This review will only specialise in the control systems that regulate the varied functions of the alimentary canal. The alimentary canal may be a tube-like structure which extends from the mouth to the anus. Histologically, the gut consists of 4 main layers: the mucosa, which comprises epithelial cells (enterocytes, endocrine cells and others), the lamina propria and therefore the muscularis mucosae; the submucosa; two muscle layers, an inner thick circular layer and an outer thin longitudinal layer; and a serosal layer. Functionally, the alimentary canal supplies the body, including the gut itself, with nutrients, electrolytes and water by performing five distinct functions: motility, secretion, digestion,absorption and storage. The gut orchestrates these functions by two control systems, intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic system is found between the various layers of the gut, whereas the extrinsic system resides outside the wall of the gut. Each of those systems consists of two components, namely, nerves and endocrine secretions. The intrinsic system has two components: the Enteric systema nervosum (ENS) and gut hormones, which include gastrin, Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP), Cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, and motilin.The extrinsic system elements that regulate gut functions contains the vagus and splanchnic nerves and therefore the hormone aldosterone.