AFFERENT IMPULSES IN THE PUDENDAL NERVES OF THE CAT

Ingoing impulses from sense organs in the anal and urethral regions of the cat were recorded in single fibres of the sacral dorsal roots. In the anal region rapidly adapting discharges came from sense organs in the peri‐anal skin, in the lining membrane of the anal canal and in the peri‐anal tissues. There were slowly adapting stretch receptors in the external anal sphincter. Rapid distension of the urethra gave rise to rapidly adapting discharges in the ingoing fibres. A steady flow of fluid along the urethra caused a sustained but irregular discharge of low voltage from receptors lying in the substance of the urethra. There are typical muscle spindles in the substance of the external anal sphincter and lamellated end organs in the peri‐anal tissue. Lamellated end organs of varying sizes are in and around the wall of the urethra: the smallest lamellated end organ lies immediately under the epithelium of the lumen of the urethra.