Skip to main content
Log in

Fiber types in the striated urethral and anal sphincters

Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Seven normal human striated urethral and anal sphincters obtained by autopsy were examined using histochemical techniques. In both the urethral sphincter and the subcutaneous (s.c.) and superficial part of the anal sphincter a characteristic pattern with two populations of muscle fibers, abundant connective tissue, and numerous intramuscular nerves are seen. No spindles are observed. The muscle fibers, particularly the predominant type 1 fibers are very small (about 15 μm in diameter). The fiber characteristics of the sphincters indicate that these muscles have a capacity to produce sustained contractions and to react in stress conditions with fast increase in tension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bazeed MA, Thüroff JW, Schmidt RA, Wiggin M, Tanagho EA (1981) Histochemistry of normal and chronically stimulated urethral striated musculature in the dog. In: Sundin T, Mattiasson A (eds) Proceedings ICS, Eleventh Annual Meeting, Lund, Sweden

  • Beersiek F, Parks AG, Swash M (1979) Pathogenesis of anorectal incontinence. A histometric study of the anal sphincter musculature. J Neurol Sci 42:111–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen JM, Timm GW, Bradley WE (1976) Some contractile and electrophysiologic properties of the periurethral striated muscle of the cat. Invest Urol 13:327–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubowitz V, Brooke MH (1973) Muscle biopsy: A modern approach. Saunders, London Philadelphia Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel M (1972) Mechanomyography of the external urethral sphincter. J Urol 107:795–801

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosling JA, Dixon JS, Critchley HOD, Thompson S-A (1981) A comparative study of the human external sphincter and periurethral levator ani muscles. Br J Urol 53:35–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Konishi A, Sato M, Mizuno N, Itoh K, Nomura S, Sugimoto T (1978) An electron microscope study of the areas of Onuf's nucleus in the cat. Brain Res 156:333–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuzuhara S, Tomonaga M, Toyokura Y, Takasu T (1979) Histochemical study on the external anal sphincter muscle of the rabbit. Acta Histochem Cytochem 12:56–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackel R (1979) Segmental and descending control of the external urethral and anal sphincters in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 294:105–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannen T, Iwata M, Toyokura Y, Nagashima K (1977) Preservation of a certain motoneuron group of the sacral cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: its clinical significance. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 40:464–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannen T, Iwata M, Toyokura Y, Nagashima K (1982) The Onuf's nucleus and the external anal sphincter muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Shy-Drager syndrome. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 58:255–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendell LM, Henneman E (1971) Terminals of single 1a fibres: location, density, and distribution within a pool of 300 homonymous motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 34:171–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Onuf B (1901) On the arrangement and function of the cell groups of the sacral region of the spinal cord in man. Arch Neurol Psychopathol 3:387–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrøder HD (1980) Organization of the motoneurons innervating the pelvic muscles of the male rat. J Comp Neurol 192:567–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrøder HD (1981) Onuf's nucleus X: A morphological study of a human spinal nucleus. Anat Embryol 162:443–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Schröder JM (1982) Pathologie der Muskulatur. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Todd JK (1964) Afferent impulses in the pudendal nerves of the cat. Q J Exp Physiol 49:258–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto T, Satomi H, Ise H, Takamata H, Takahashi K (1978) Sacral spinal innervations of the rectal and vesical smooth muscles and the sphincteric striated muscles as demonstrated by the horseradish peroxidase method. Neurosci Lett 7:41–47

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schrøder, H.D., Reske-Nielsen, E. Fiber types in the striated urethral and anal sphincters. Acta Neuropathol 60, 278–282 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691877

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691877

Key words

Navigation