Premium
Nervous Pathways in Anorectal Control
Author(s) -
STEPHENS F. DOUGLAS
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1972.tb06738.x
Subject(s) - efferent , medicine , afferent , reflex , rectum , anal sphincter , external anal sphincter , sphincter , anatomy , urethral sphincter , anal canal , internal anal sphincter , neuroscience , surgery , anesthesia , urethra , biology
The normal individual is provided with highly sophisticated afferent and efferent nerve pathways to the rectum and the levator ani complex, the external sphincter and the internal involuntary sphincter, to maintain continence. Studies indicate that patients may gain near‐normal control when lacking certain anatomical components of these muscles and reflex arcs. The sphincters of the normal and abnormal states are described.