Onuf's nucleus | |
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Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | nucleus nervi pudendi |
TA98 | A14.1.02.139 |
TA2 | 6084 |
FMA | 77024 |
Anatomical terminology |
Onuf's nucleus is a distinct group of neurons located in the ventral part (lamina IX) of the anterior horn of the sacral region of the human spinal cord involved in the maintenance of micturition and defecatory continence, as well as muscular contraction during orgasm. It contains motor neurons, and is the origin of the pudendal nerve. The sacral region of the spinal cord is the fourth segment (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar being the first three) of vertebrae in the spinal cord which consists of the vertebrae 26-30.[1] While working in New York City in 1899, Bronislaw Onuf-Onufrowicz discovered this group of unique cells and originally identified it as “Group X.” “Group X” was considered distinct by Onufrowicz because the cells were different in size from the surrounding neurons in the anterolateral group, suggesting that they were independent.[2]