SPARC: Modelling a Bidirectional Bioelectric Pelvic Nerve Interface

Abstract

Background Micturition (urination) and continence are controlled by the autonomic nervous system; disruptions to urinary control due to disease or injury significantly impair patients’ quality‐of‐life. The pelvic nerves (in human, the pelvic splanchnic nerves) provide the primary source of autonomic sensory and motor innervation to the bladder and are prime targets for electrical stimulation to treat over‐ or under‐active bladder. The pelvic nerves in both human and rat are fasciculated, but differ from other well‐studied nerves such as the vagus or sciatic nerves in largely lacking a resistive epineurium. The pelvic nerves also comprise a much higher proportion of smalle..