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Neurophysiologic Control of the Lower Urinary Tract and Anorectum

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Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Abstract

Continence and appropriate evacuation of urine and stool is the result of coordinated action of the skeletal and smooth muscles of the lower urinary tract and the anorectum. The neural control of these muscles is complex, not fully understood and mostly studied in animals although valuable information has been derived from the observation of the effects of neurological injury or disease in humans. Full understanding of the neurophysiologic control of micturition and defecation is therefore not the goal of the chapter but rather an review of known information regarding the integration of autonomic and somatic nervous systems in regulating these functions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Dr Marie-Claude Lemieux

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital St-Luc, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Dr Stéphane Ouellet

Authors
  1. Dr Marie-Claude Lemieux
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  2. Dr Stéphane Ouellet
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Urogynecology Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    H. P. Drutz BA, MD, FRC(C), FACOG, FSOGC

  2. Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    S. Herschorn BSc, MDCM, FRCSC

  3. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    N. E. Diamant MD, FRCP(C)

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Lemieux, MC., Ouellet, S. (2003). Neurophysiologic Control of the Lower Urinary Tract and Anorectum. In: Drutz, H.P., Herschorn, S., Diamant, N.E. (eds) Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-238-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-238-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84628-237-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-238-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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