A survey of commonalities relevant to function and dysfunction in pelvic and sexual organs

Micturition, defecation and sexual function are all programmed through spinal reflexes that are under descending control from higher centres. Interaction between these reflexes can clearly be perceived, and evidence is accumulating the dysfunction in one reflex is often associated with dysfunction in another. In this article, we describe some of the basic properties and neural control of the smooth muscles mediating the reflexes, reviewing the common features that underlie these reflex functions, and what changes may be responsible for dysfunction. We propose that autonomic control within the pelvis predisposes pelvic and sexual organs to crosstalk, with the consequence that diseases and conditions of the pelvis are subject to convergence on a functional level. It should be expected that disturbance of the function of one system will inevitably impact adjacent systems.