- Anal wink
The anal wink, anal reflex, perineal reflex, or anocutaneous reflex is the
reflex ive contraction of the externalanal sphincter upon stroking of the skin around the anus.A noxious or tactile stimulus will cause a wink contraction of the
anal sphincter muscle s and also flexion. The stimulus is detected by thenociceptor s in theperineal skin to thepudendal nerve , where a response is integrated by thespinal cord sacral segment s S1-S3.The absence of this reflex indicates that there is an interruption of the
reflex arc , which may be in the sensoryafferent limb or the motorefferent limb. Thesynapse between the afferent and efferent limbs occurs in the lowest sacral segments of thespinal cord .Child abuse controversy
Dr.
Bruce Woodling developed the "anal wink test" which he alleged was an indisputable diagnostic indicator that a child had been sodomised. In a clinical setting, he would spread a child’s buttocks and touch the anus with a cotton swab. If the anus "winked", Woodling testified, this was "proof of sodomy". His testimony was prominent in theMcMartin preschool child abuse case.It has since been established that Woodling never made any effort to validate his test, and it has been utterly discredited.
Woodling's
pseudoscientific testimony during the trial ofRay Buckey contributed to Buckey spending five years in prison without bail. Buckey was later released without conviction.ee also
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Reflex anal dilatation External links
* [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/woodlingtestimony.html Testimony by Dr. Bruce Woodling] — Expert testimony in McMartin Child Abuse Case.
* [http://www.pathguy.com/abuse.htm False allegations of child abuse] — Expert opinion on false allegations of child abuse, with mention of "anal wink" testimony.
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