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Neurophysiology and Neurophysiological Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor

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Electrical Stimulation for Pelvic Floor Disorders

Abstract

This chapter details the neural circuitry that controls the mechanisms that regulate urinary and intestinal functions, describing the afferent and efferent neuronal pathways between the brain and the pelvic organs.

After a functional anatomical approach, the neurophysiological investigations valuable in the assessment of patients with urogenital and anorectal dysfunctions are reported. On assessing a patient with neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction, different neurophysiological methods are described, in particular electromyography (EMG), sacral reflexes, somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP), motor-evoked potential (MEP), sympathetic skin response (SSR), and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML). Moreover, technical advice is given, reporting normative values and discussing neurophysiological tests clinical applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Rosa Luana and Mr. Marzio Marcellini for their skilful technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, INRCA IRCCS, Via della Montagnola, 81, Ancona, Marche, 60100, Italy

    Giuseppe Pelliccioni & Paolo Pelliccioni

  2. Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, Via Conca 71, Ancona, Marche, 60020, Italy

    Paolo Pelliccioni

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Pelliccioni
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  2. Paolo Pelliccioni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Pelliccioni .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. General, Emergency and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

    Jacopo Martellucci

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Pelliccioni, G., Pelliccioni, P. (2015). Neurophysiology and Neurophysiological Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor. In: Martellucci, J. (eds) Electrical Stimulation for Pelvic Floor Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06947-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06947-0_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-06946-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-06947-0

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