ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) is an electrophysiological test used to evaluate sensory innervations in peripheral and central neuropathies. Pudendal SSEP has been studied in dysfunctions related to the lower urinary tract and pelvic floor. Although some authors have already described technical details pertaining to the method, the standardization and the influence of physiological variables in normative values have not yet been established, especially for women. The aim of the study was to describe normal values of the pudendal SSEP and to compare technical details with those described by other authors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clitoral sensory threshold and pudendal SSEP latency was accomplished in 38 normal volunteers. The results obtained from stimulation performed on each side of the clitoris were compared to ages, body mass index (BMI) and number of pregnancies. RESULTS: The values of clitoral sensory threshold and P1 latency with clitoral left stimulation were respectively, 3.64 ± 1.01 mA and 37.68 ± 2.60 ms. Results obtained with clitoral right stimulation were 3.84 ± 1.53 mA and 37.42 ± 3.12 ms, respectively. There were no correlations between clitoral sensory threshold and P1 latency with age, BMI or height of the volunteers. A significant difference was found in P1 latency between nulliparous women and volunteers who had been previously submitted to cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: The SSEP latency represents an accessible and reproducible method to investigate the afferent pathways from the genitourinary tract. These results could be used as normative values in studies involving genitourinary neuropathies in order to better clarify voiding and sexual dysfunctions in females.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Clitoris/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/physiology , Female Urogenital Diseases/diagnosis , Pelvic Floor/physiology , Sensory Thresholds/physiology , Body Mass Index , Clitoris/innervation , Electric Stimulation , Electrodes , Electromyography , Female Urogenital Diseases/physiopathology , Pregnancy Rate , Prospective Studies , Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/diagnosisABSTRACT
Al realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre las estructuras anatómicas e histológica del clítoris canino, se constató una marcada discrepancia entre los autores consultados, acerca de la existencia del hueso clitoridiano. Ante esta disyuntiva, se decidió indagar sobre la existencia de la estructura en cuestión. Con tal fin se disecaron y procesaron histológicamente 23 clítoris de perras. Se efectuó una minuciosa descripción de la constitución tisular, no hallando en ningún caso tejido óseo. A pesar de ello, consideramos que el número de muestras procesadas, así como la edad de los animales estudiados, no es lo suficientemente representativo para aseverar la ausencia de esta estructura
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology , Clitoris/anatomy & histology , Clitoris/innervation , Dogs/anatomy & histology , Histological Techniques , Osteogenesis , Penis/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
Se estudiaron 32 mujeres voluntarias normales, con edades que oscilaron entre los 20 y 68 años. Se les provocó el Reflejo Pudendo Profundo (RPP) mediante un electrodo de superfície especial que tiene la ventaja de servir para el registro del esfínter anal y también para el estímulo del nervio pudendo. Se describe la técnica para la obtención del reflejo tras la estimulación de dicho nervio a nivel de la espina isquiática. Se obtuvo una latencia media de 36,18 mseg ñ 4,29 con una amplitud media de 306,11 uv ñ DS 227,15. Al efectuar el RPP se realiza un reflejo pudendo-anal que difere del clássico reflejo bulbocavernoso en cuanto a la localización del estímulo, de las latencias, y también en su vía aferente aunque comparten un trayecto común en parte del mismo