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Abstract
Unilateral pudendal neurectomy in the monkey results in histological changes consistent
with partial denervation on both sides of the external anal sphincter muscle, but
much more marked ipsilaterally than contralaterally. Histological features consistent
with reinnervation developed during the 9-13 weeks after unilateral neurectomy in
the anterior parts of the muscle on both sides. These observations suggest that there
is a substantial overlap in the pudendal innervation of the external anal sphincter
muscles on the 2 sides. This derives from interdigitation of muscle fascicles across
the midline in this circular muscle. This functionally overlapping innervation enables
reinnervation to be partially accomplished from the contralateral side. This is important
in understanding the results of electrophysiological and histopathological studies
of this muscle in patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence, itself a neurogenic
disorder.