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Related Concept Videos

The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
Urinary Bladder01:23

Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular sac that temporarily stores urine before it is expelled from the body. It can hold approximately 600 mL of urine prior to micturition. The bladder is retroperitoneal and located behind the pubic symphysis in the pelvic floor.
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra01:19

Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra

The lower urinary system consists of the urinary bladder and urethra, which are essential in storing and expelling urine from the body. Together with the internal and external sphincters, these structures work together to regulate urination effectively.Anatomy of the BladderThe urinary bladder is a muscular, stretchable organ behind the pubic bone and in front of the rectum. In females, the bladder is positioned anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus, while in males, it is located...
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry01:19

Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a non-invasive urodynamic test designed to measure various aspects of urination, including volume, flow rate, and the time to void. This test is crucial for diagnosing and assessing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence, and urinary tract blockages caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urethral strictures.Pre-Test Instructions:Before a uroflowmetry test, patients are typically advised to drink...
Physiology of Urine Formation01:24

Physiology of Urine Formation

Urine formation is an essential function of the human body. It plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating the volume and composition of body fluids. The kidneys, the primary organs involved in this process, filter blood to remove waste products and excess substances, ultimately producing urine.
Glomerular Filtration
The first stage in urine formation is glomerular filtration. Each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, the functional units of filtration, with a...
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...

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Symptoms and subtypes of patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction - insights from the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network.

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Generalized Sensory Sensitivity in Patients With Urinary Urgency-A LURN II Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Study.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
10:26

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology

Published on: August 18, 2014

Basic bladder neurophysiology.

J Quentin Clemens1

  • 1Division of Neurourology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Taubman Center 3875, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5330, USA. qclemens@umich.edu

The Urologic Clinics of North America
|October 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Normal lower urinary tract function relies on intricate neural coordination for urine storage and micturition. This review covers bladder mechanics, neuroanatomy, neural control, and pharmacology, highlighting the urothelium

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A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling
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A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling

Published on: November 28, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
10:26

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology

Published on: August 18, 2014

A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling
06:36

A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling

Published on: November 28, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Lower urinary tract function involves complex coordination between the central and peripheral nervous systems.
  • Understanding the neural control of bladder function is crucial for diagnosing and treating urinary disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the fundamental principles regulating normal urine storage and micturition.
  • To discuss the neuroanatomy, biomechanics, and neural control mechanisms of the lower urinary tract.
  • To explore the role of pharmacology and the urothelium in lower urinary tract function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on lower urinary tract physiology and neurobiology.
  • Synthesis of information regarding bladder biomechanics, neuroanatomy, and neural pathways.
  • Discussion of pharmacologic agents and their mechanisms in modulating neural signals.

Main Results:

  • Normal lower urinary tract function is a result of integrated central and peripheral nervous system activity.
  • Key regulatory principles include bladder biomechanics, specific neuroanatomy, and neural control pathways.
  • Pharmacologic processes translate neural signals, and the urothelium plays an emerging sensory role.

Conclusions:

  • Normal voiding and urine storage depend on a complex interplay of anatomical, physiological, and neural factors.
  • The urothelium is increasingly recognized for its sensory function in the lower urinary tract.
  • Further research into these mechanisms can inform therapeutic strategies for lower urinary tract dysfunction.