Striated Sphincter Participation in Distal Passive Urinary Continence Mechanisms: Studies in Male Subjects Deprived of Proximal Sphincter Mechanism

Abstract

Striated urethral sphincter function was studied in passive incontinent and continent male subjects who were deprived of the proximal sphincter mechanism. Functional assessment of striated urethral sphincter included electromyography and electrostimulation. Varying degrees of diminished striated sphincter excitability and reflex activity were observed in passive incontinent male subjects who also had varying degrees of somatomotor neuron lesions. The participating role of periurethral striated musculature in distal passive continence mechanisms cannot be ignored.