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Related Experiment Videos

Central pathways controlling micturition and urinary continence.

Bertil F M Blok1

  • 1Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bfmb@hotmail.com

Urology
|May 15, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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The brainstem and diencephalon control urination similarly in cats and humans. Specific brain regions manage bladder function, with higher cortical areas involved in initiating, but not maintaining, urinary continence.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Urology

Background:

  • The central nervous system regulates micturition and urinary continence.
  • Similarities in neural control mechanisms between species can provide insights into human physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the neural control of micturition and urinary continence in cats and humans.
  • To identify homologous brain regions involved in these functions across species.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on feline and human neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of micturition.
  • Analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) studies in humans.

Main Results:

  • Four key brain areas in cats (pontine micturition center, pontine continence center, periaqueductal gray, hypothalamus) are implicated in micturition control.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Positron emission tomography studies confirm activation of similar supraspinal regions in humans during micturition.
  • Human cingulate and prefrontal cortices are active during micturition and continence, suggesting a role in initiation rather than reflex control.

    • Conclusions:

    • The central organization of micturition and urinary continence is conserved between cats and humans.
    • Supraspinal centers, including the brainstem and diencephalon, play a critical role in coordinating bladder function.
    • Higher cortical areas are involved in the volitional control and initiation of micturition.