Anal wink

Anal Wink is a reflex contraction of the external anal sphincter upon stroking of the skin around the anus. It is also known as the perineal reflex or anocutaneous reflex. This reflex is used in neurological examinations to assess the integrity of the sacral spinal cord and the pudendal nerve.

Anatomy

The anal wink reflex involves the contraction of the external anal sphincter, which is innervated by the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve arises from the sacral spinal cord (S2-S4). The skin around the anus, where the reflex is elicited, is innervated by the perineal branch of the pudendal nerve.

Clinical Significance

The anal wink reflex is used in neurological examinations to assess the integrity of the sacral spinal cord and the pudendal nerve. Absence of the reflex may indicate a lesion or injury to the sacral spinal cord, pudendal nerve, or external anal sphincter. This can occur in conditions such as spinal cord injuries, cauda equina syndrome, and pudendal nerve entrapment.

See Also

• Bulbocavernosus Reflex
• Cremasteric Reflex
• Superficial Reflexes