Innervation of the rabbit rectococcygeus muscle and the functional relationship of the muscle to the terminal large intestine.

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Abstract
The rectococcygeus muscle is supplied by cholinergic motor fibers from the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. The histofluorescence technique revealed a sparse adrenergic innervation. When a maintained state of partial contraction was induced by carbachol, stimulation of the extrinsic sympathetic nerves produced a relaxation of the muscle which was usually followed by contraction. The rectococcygeus muscle may also receive nerves which are neither adrenergic nor cholinergic. Ganglion cells were found close to and, in some preparations, within the muscle; the role of these ganglion cells was not clear. The rectococcygeus muscle and the longitudinal muscle of the rectum apparently were not linked by a myogenic mechanism. The rectococcygeus muscle would appear to be linked by nerve fibers to neighboring structures.