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Sparing of the onufrowicz nucleus in sacral anterior horn lesions
Author(s) -
Iwata Makoto,
Hirano Asao
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410040309
Subject(s) - anatomy , medicine , anterior horn cell , anus , urethral sphincter , nucleus , external anal sphincter , urethra , french horn , anterior horn , surgery , spinal cord , anal canal , rectum , psychology , pathology , disease , pedagogy , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , psychiatry
Abstract Sacral anterior horns were examined with special reference to the Onufrowicz nucleus in 3 patients with Werdnig‐Hoffman disease, 2 with healed anterior poliomyelitis, and 1 who had undergone amputation of both legs above the knee. None of these patients showed symptoms of either urethral or anal sphincter disturbances. The Onufrowicz nucleus of the second sacral anterior horn appeared normal in all the patients examined, though the lateral portion of that horn and the medial nuclear group of the third sacral segment were frequently involved. These findings support the view that the Onufrowicz nucleus may be innervating the external sphincter muscle of the urethra and the anus.