Maturation of the External Urinary Sphincter: A comparative Histotopographic Study in Humans

No AccessJournal of Urology1 Aug 1993Maturation of the External Urinary Sphincter: A comparative Histotopographic Study in Humans Alexandre Kokoua, Yves Homsy, Jean-François Lavigne, Pierre Williot, Jacques Corcos, Ivan Laberge, and Jean Michaud Alexandre KokouaAlexandre Kokoua More articles by this author , Yves HomsyYves Homsy More articles by this author , Jean-François LavigneJean-François Lavigne More articles by this author , Pierre WilliotPierre Williot More articles by this author , Jacques CorcosJacques Corcos More articles by this author , Ivan LabergeIvan Laberge More articles by this author , and Jean MichaudJean Michaud More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(17)35563-5AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail The developmental anatomy of the striated urinary sphincter remains controversial and is scantly documented in children. We compared its structure and configuration in the fetus, infant and adult to determine anatomical differences among these groups. We removed 25 postmortem specimens from fetuses, infants and children, which were fixed and stained for histological study. Ages ranged from 14 weeks of gestation to 12 years postpartum. Transverse and mid sagittal sections were obtained from the bladder neck to the membranous urethra in male and the whole urethra in female subjects. At the level of the membranous urethra in male and mid urethra in female subjects the striated muscle fibers completely encircle the urethra and join behind it to form a tail-like structure that runs posteriorly towards the perineal body. This structure is mid sagittal in male and mediolateral in female subjects. At 3 to 4 months of life, at the level of the bulbourethral glands the tail disappears; the striated sphincter becomes horseshoe-shaped and its 2 branches bifurcate posteriorly to envelop these glands. The urethral striated sphincter consists of scantly dispersed muscle fibers in the fetus. In young infants it becomes well defined in both sexes with the presence of a tail-like structure that characterizes this age group. In older subjects this tail disappears and the sphincter assumes a horseshoe or omega-shaped configuration as splitting of the sphincter progresses caudo-cranially with development. We attempt to determine whether the ring configuration of the voluntary sphincter contributes to high voiding pressures that are reported to occur in some newborns and infants. © 1993 by The American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byFranco I (2018) Overactive Bladder in Children. 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Volume 150Issue 2 Part 2August 1993Page: 617-622 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 1993 by The American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.KeywordsurethramusclesMetricsAuthor Information Alexandre Kokoua More articles by this author Yves Homsy More articles by this author Jean-François Lavigne More articles by this author Pierre Williot More articles by this author Jacques Corcos More articles by this author Ivan Laberge More articles by this author Jean Michaud More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...