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Related Experiment Videos

Human anal reflexes.

E Pedersen, H Harving, B Klemar

    Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
    |September 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    The anal reflex, measured by electrical stimulation and EMG, is consistently present in healthy individuals. This reflex can help localize neurological defects within the reflex arc, aiding in diagnosing conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS).

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    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Clinical Electrophysiology

    Background:

    • The anal reflex is a crucial indicator of neurological function.
    • Understanding its latency and threshold aids in diagnosing lesions within the central nervous system (CNS) and reflex arc.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the characteristics of the anal reflex using perianal and peripheral nerve stimulation.
    • To assess the utility of the anal reflex in localizing neurological deficits, particularly in patients with CNS lesions or spinal shock.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized perianal electrical stimulation and electromyography (EMG) of the external anal sphincter to record the anal reflex.
    • Employed stimulation over the posterior tibial nerve to elicit reflex responses from the anal sphincter and tibialis anterior muscle.
    • Measured reflex latency and threshold in normal subjects and patients with neurological conditions.

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    Main Results:

    • The anal reflex was consistently present in normal subjects with a minimum latency of 50 ms.
    • No significant difference in minimum latency was observed between normal subjects and those with suprasegmental CNS lesions.
    • Latency was prolonged in patients with reflex arc lesions, and peripheral stimulation elicited responses with longer latencies but lower thresholds than tibialis anterior reflexes.

    Conclusions:

    • The anal reflex is a reliable indicator of external anal sphincter innervation.
    • Stimulation techniques can differentiate between afferent and efferent pathway defects in the anal reflex.
    • The anal reflex remains present even during spinal shock, suggesting its resilience.